AI policy in K-12 schools remains largely local

A late-2025 survey of state education board members found few states mandate district AI policies, leaving most decisions to local school districts while officials raise concerns about student safety, data privacy and equity.

Generative AI tools are appearing in K-12 classrooms and school communities are trying to adapt. A late-2025 survey of members of the National Association of State Boards of Education found most states have not imposed mandatory AI policies and local districts often make their own rules. Policymakers named concerns including student safety, data privacy, equity and potential industry influence. Schools and districts vary in resources and many rely on pilots or toolkits rather than statewide mandates. Key findings: - Few states require districts to adopt specific generative AI policies; many provide guidance or toolkits instead. - Local control dominates: districts decide bans, pilots or policies when state mandates are absent. - Policymakers reported concerns about student safety, data privacy, equity, deepfakes and possible vendor influence. - Evidence on how AI affects learning and teaching is limited and will take years to clarify. - Resource gaps mean higher-poverty schools are less likely to receive AI guidance or to use AI tools. Summary: State-level guidance on generative AI in K-12 is uneven, so local districts largely shape how tools are used in classrooms. The longer-term effects on learners and teachers remain undetermined at this time.