Ohio lawmakers join national push to establish AI guidelines for schools
With 85% of teachers already using AI in classrooms, Ohio joins 30+ states racing to create policies for educational AI use amid widespread confusion over guidelines.
COLUMBUS, OHIO — As artificial intelligence tools become more common in classrooms across the nation, Ohio state lawmakers are among those working to establish policies for AI use in K-12 schools, following legislative action in more than 30 states this year.
Lawmakers have filed over 134 bills across 31 states in 2026 related to AI in education, focusing on data privacy, classroom usage restrictions, literacy training, and professional development, according to government relations firm MultiState. The legislative activity comes as school districts try to keep pace with rapidly advancing AI technology that students and teachers are already using.
Teachers and students already embracing AI tools
A survey by the Center for Democracy & Technology revealed widespread AI adoption in schools during the 2024-25 academic year. Eighty-five percent of teachers reported using AI in their classrooms, while 86% of students said they had used AI for either personal or school-related purposes.
Despite this high usage rate, only about half of teachers and students reported receiving training or information about AI from someone at their school. Even fewer received guidance about the potential risks associated with AI use, the survey found.
Inconsistent policies create confusion
The varied approach to AI regulation has created confusion for educators nationwide. In Maryland, AI usage policies for K-12 schools are “all over the map,” said Democratic state Sen. Katie Fry Hester.
“In some school districts, AI use is encouraged, while in others it is restricted, or — a worst-case scenario for Hester — there is little to no policy guidance at all,” according to the survey findings.
“What we heard repeatedly is that the teachers were feeling like they had to navigate artificial intelligence entirely on their own,” Hester said.
Maryland leads with comprehensive legislation
Maryland has taken steps to address these challenges through new legislation sponsored by Hester that was signed into law in May. The measure requires an AI coordinator in each school system and mandates statewide AI professional development for teachers.
The legislation also requires AI literacy to become a component of career readiness and computer science standards for K-12 students. It directs the state Department of Education to provide specific guidance on AI implementation and usage.
Hester identified AI literacy as the foundation for effective policy development, emphasizing that lawmakers must understand the technology before they can regulate it effectively.
The rapid adoption of AI in educational settings accelerated significantly following the rollout of ChatGPT in 2022, said Noelle Ellerson Ng, chief advocacy and governance officer for the School Superintendents Association. “AI was something that could not be gatekept,” Ng noted, highlighting how the technology’s accessibility has outpaced institutional policy development.
As Ohio and other states continue developing their approaches to AI in education, the focus remains on balancing the technology’s educational benefits with appropriate safeguards and training for both educators and students.
