Illinois lawmakers are poised to pass landmark legislation that would create the state’s first comprehensive framework for evaluating and implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in K-12 schools. The proposal, which has garnered bipartisan attention in the final weeks of the legislative session, tasks the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) with developing statewide guidance to help educators and students navigate the rapidly evolving landscape of AI tools.

The legislation, House Bill 2503 and its Senate counterpart, calls for the creation of a State Instructional Technology Advisory Board. This board will collaborate with ISBE to provide guidance, integration, oversight, and evaluation of education technologies, with a particular focus on AI. The advisory board will include educators, technology experts, and representatives from statewide education organizations, ensuring diverse perspectives in shaping policy.

Among the bill’s central requirements:

• Development of AI Standards: ISBE, in consultation with the advisory board, must develop standards for safety, transparency, data privacy, and educational quality for any AI technology used in schools.
• Annual Reporting: School districts will be required to submit annual reports to ISBE detailing how students, teachers, and district employees use AI, as well as their educational technology capacity and policies.
• AI Literacy and Professional Development: The state will create professional development opportunities to help educators build AI literacy and implement the new guidance effectively.
• Internet Safety Curriculum Updates: The bill mandates that the internet safety education curriculum include instruction in the safe and responsible use of AI, such as recognizing and reporting online harassment, cyberbullying, and deepfakes generated by AI tools.

The bill was developed in partnership with Teach Plus Illinois, the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance, and a coalition of education organizations. Advocates say the framework will help ensure that all districts, regardless of size or resources, have access to expert-driven guidance, rather than leaving individual teachers or districts to navigate complex decisions alone.

If enacted, ISBE would be required to publish initial guidance by July 1, 2026, and provide regular updates to keep pace with technological advancements. The legislation is expected to pass before the end of the session, positioning Illinois alongside roughly two dozen other states that have already issued or are developing AI guidance for schools.