Bill
SB 864
NC schools will establish AI literacy, implement mandatory AI-use policies, evaluate AI tools, and fund educator training to ensure safe, ethical AI in K-12.
Purpose
- Establish a comprehensive framework to integrate artificial intelligence (AI) responsibly into North Carolina public schools. The bill aims to update computer science standards with AI literacy, require AI policies at all public education units, create an evaluation framework for AI educational tools, and fund educator/administrator training on AI use.
Key Provisions
1) Modify Computer Science Standards (Part I)
- Add: The State Board of Education must adopt age-appropriate AI literacy standards for grades K-12.
- Standards must cover: responsible and ethical AI use, AI tool limitations, evaluating AI outputs, data/privacy concerns, and best practices/safety with AI and chatbots.
- The Board must review/update AI standards every two years (in addition to regular standards reviews).
- Revised standards must be implemented starting with the 2028-2029 school year.
- Update course lists to align with revised standards, effective for 2028-2029.
- DPI to report by December 15, 2028 on adoption, alignment, and implementation challenges.
2) AI Policies for Public School Units (Part II)
- DPI must develop a model AI policy addressing: definitions of AI/generative AI/tools, AI literacy for students and staff (including nonconsensual intimate imagery), data privacy/security, and ethical/academic integrity guidelines for AI use.
- Local education agencies (boards of education, including traditional districts, charter schools, and university-affiliated/other boards) must adopt policies on AI use after reviewing the model policy. Specific sections cover:
- G.S. 115C-47, 115C-150.12C, 115C-218.33 (charters), 115C-238.66 (nonpublic boards), 116-239.8 (university chancellors) – all amended to require AI use policies following the model policy.
- Effective timeline: DPI to deliver the model policy by December 31, 2026; access to the policy by January 15, 2027; all governing bodies to adopt required AI-use policies by June 30, 2027.
3) AI Tool Evaluation Framework (Part III)
- DPI to establish and maintain an evaluation framework for generative AI educational tools, with updates at least every two years.
- Framework criteria include: student data privacy/security/transparency; alignment with standards; accessibility.
- DPI to maintain a public list of AI tools reviewed under the framework and provide procurement guidance, vendor lists, and incentives for tools that pass review.
- Public list of all AI tools in use in public school units to be maintained.
4) Educator and Administrator Training on AI (Part IV)
- DPI to partner with the Friday Institute for Educational Innovation (NC State) to develop online, tool-agnostic training modules and resources.
- Modules cover AI fundamentals, responsible use, verification/quality control, academic integrity/assessment changes, data privacy, bias, accessibility, and ethics.
- Deliverables include: self-paced modules (at least 10 hours), facilitator guides, model classroom resources, and a train-the-trainer package.
- Implementation timeline: training resources available to units by June 30, 2027; all teachers to complete training by June 30, 2028.
- DPI to report by December 15, 2028 on module delivery, educator participation, updates, and needs.
- Funding: $500,000 in nonrecurring General Fund money for FY 2026-2027 to support implementation, with funds carrying through to 2027-2028.
Effective Date
- General effective date: July 1, 2026 (with various components phased in through 2027-2029).
Impact Overview
- Aligns NC K-12 education with AI literacy and governance, ensuring standardized AI education, formal policy adoption at all public school units, and a controlled approach to selecting and using AI tools.
- Signals emphasis on privacy, ethics, integrity, accessibility, and professional development for educators.
- Introduces state-level oversight via DPI reporting requirements and a clear funding mechanism to support implementation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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