A new Maryland law will require the Maryland State Department of Education to develop guidance and resources to help local school systems, educators, parents and students navigate the use of artificial intelligence in K-12 education.
Senate Bill 720, known as the Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act, directs the department to provide online guidance covering the use of AI in schools. The law also requires the development of guidelines, best practices and evaluation tools to help local school systems assess artificial intelligence platforms before adopting them for classroom use.
The legislation also establishes the Maryland AI Education Collaborative on Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education, a statewide group that will bring together educators, school leaders, higher education representatives, technology experts and other stakeholders to study AI’s role in education and make recommendations for its responsible use.
In addition to developing guidance, the law calls for professional development resources to help educators understand and effectively integrate AI into teaching while promoting safe, ethical and responsible use.
Supporters say the measure is intended to help schools keep pace with rapidly evolving AI technology while ensuring students and educators have access to consistent guidance across the state. The law is also designed to assist local school systems in evaluating AI tools for instructional use and preparing students for a future in which artificial intelligence plays an increasingly significant role.
