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Broad support from NC legislators for a bill that will mandate teaching about artificial intelligence and setting ethical boundaries for AI.
House Bill 301, if passed, will significantly update K-12 computer science education standards in North Carolina by mandating the inclusion of artificial intelligence (AI) literacy. This change is scheduled to begin with the 2028-29 school year. The legislation acknowledges the growing impact of AI on the computer science field, as evidenced by recent increases in unemployment rates for computer science graduates. The Department of Public Instruction (DPI) will be responsible for revising existing computer science curricula to incorporate AI literacy and will need to report on the adoption, implementation, and any challenges encountered by December 15, 2028. Furthermore, the State Board of Education is tasked with developing age-appropriate AI literacy standards for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, with updates required every two years to keep pace with rapid AI advancements. These standards will cover critical areas such as responsible and ethical AI use, understanding the limitations of AI tools, evaluating and verifying AI outputs, addressing data and privacy concerns related to AI, and promoting best practices and safety when interacting with AI or AI chatbots.
The bill mandates that the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) create a comprehensive 'model policy' to guide how public school units (including local boards of education, charter schools, and regional schools) integrate and perceive AI. This policy will include essential definitions for AI, generative AI, and AI tools, alongside guidance to enhance AI literacy among both students and school staff. A critical component of this guidance will be education on sensitive topics like nonconsensual intimate imagery. The policy will also establish robust data privacy and security measures designed to protect students and staff when utilizing AI technologies, as well as set clear standards for the ethical and acceptable use of AI and chatbots within educational environments, including specific academic integrity guidelines. Following DPI's review of this model, local school boards will be required to adopt their own tailored AI policies. Senator Joyce Waddell raised valid concerns about the financial implications for DPI and school districts, noting the additional burden without specific funding for implementation and teacher training, especially for returning retired educators.
House Bill 301 also requires the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to establish and maintain a framework specifically for evaluating generative artificial intelligence-powered educational tools. This framework is designed to provide clear criteria and guiding considerations for schools to assess AI tools and must be reviewed and updated at least every two years to stay current with technological advancements, new research, and evolving educational practices. Key areas that the framework must address include student data privacy, security, transparency, ensuring alignment of AI tools with the state's standard course of study, and guaranteeing accessibility for all students. Additionally, DPI will be responsible for creating and maintaining a publicly available list of AI tools that have been reviewed under this framework and are in use across public school units. The bill also calls for the establishment of 'procurement guidance, qualified vendor lists, and other mechanisms' to encourage and support the adoption of AI tools that meet the framework's standards. This initiative could significantly influence ongoing discussions, such as the controversial proposal in omnibus education bill S1006, which seeks to allocate $10 million in state funds for Khan Academy's AI tutoring program, Khanmigo, despite reported concerns about its classroom effectiveness.
To ensure effective and responsible integration of AI in North Carolina's educational system, the bill directs the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) to collaborate with NC State University's Friday Institute for Educational Innovation. This partnership aims to design, produce, and support the implementation of 'tool-agnostic online training modules' and related resources for educators and administrators. These comprehensive modules will cover a range of essential topics, including AI fundamentals for educators, responsible instructional use of AI, verification and quality control of AI outputs, upholding academic integrity in an AI-assisted environment, understanding data privacy and security implications, recognizing and addressing bias in AI systems, ensuring accessible usage of AI for special populations, and promoting overall ethical use and professional responsibility. The resources developed by the Friday Institute are expected to be available to schools by June 30, 2027, with educators given a year to complete the required professional development. This initiative responds to concerns highlighted by a May 2026 Gallup poll, which revealed that a mere 18% of teachers receive formal guidance from school administrators on AI usage, underscoring a significant gap in institutional support.
House Bill 301 has garnered significant bipartisan support, evident in its unanimous passage during its second and third readings in the North Carolina state Senate. Despite all the bill's initial sponsors being Republicans, its appeal crossed party lines, with Democratic Senator Sydney Batch commending its bipartisan approach. She emphasized its importance in addressing the needs of youth, particularly concerning the power of AI and the challenges of social media addiction. This legislative effort aligns with broader state priorities, as Governor Josh Stein has actively championed AI literacy during his term. The governor has issued an executive order aimed at solidifying North Carolina's leadership in AI literacy, governance, and deployment, and has also established an advisory group dedicated to exploring how schools can responsibly integrate AI technologies into classrooms.