North Carolina SB 864: Safe and Responsible AI in Schools Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 864

Short Title: Safe and Responsible AI in Schools Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Senator Jones (Primary Sponsor).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
April 29, 2026
*S864-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO REQUIRE THE STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO UPDATE COMPUTER 2
SCIENCE STANDARDS TO INCLUDE INSTRUCTION ON ARTIFICIAL 3
INTELLIGENCE (AI), TO REQUIRE EDUCATION AGENCIES AND PUBLIC SCHOOL 4
UNITS TO ADOPT POLICIES REGARDING THE USE OF AI, TO ESTABLISH A 5
FRAMEWORK FOR EVALUATING AI EDUCATIONAL TOOLS FOR USE IN PUBLIC 6
SCHOOLS, AND TO REQUIRE THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION TO 7
CONTRACT WITH THE FRIDAY INSTITUTE TO DEVELOP EDUCATOR AND 8
ADMINISTRATOR TRAINING ON THE USE OF AI AND APPROPRIATE FUNDS FOR 9
THAT PURPOSE. 10
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 11
12
PART I. MODIFY COMPUTER SCIENCE STANDARDS 13
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 115C-81.90 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 14
"(a1) Instruction on Artificial Intelligence Literacy. – The State Board shall adopt 15
age-appropriate standards for instruction on artificial intelligence (AI) literacy for grades 16
kindergarten through 12. All courses offered pursuant to this section shall include instruction on 17
AI literacy aligned with the standards adopted by the State Board. Notwithstanding the regular 18
review of content standards required by G.S. 115C-12(9c)c., the State Board shall review and 19
update these standards every two years to keep up with advancements in AI. The standards shall 20
include at least the following: 21
(1) Responsible and ethical use of AI. 22
(2) Limitations of AI tools. 23
(3) Evaluation and verification of outputs provided by AI tools. 24
(4) Data and privacy concerns related to AI tools. 25
(5) Best practices and safety when interacting with AI or AI chatbots." 26
SECTION 1.(b) Notwithstanding the regular review of content standards pursuant 27
to G.S. 115C-12(9c)c., the State Board of Education shall revise the standard course of study for 28
computer science for grades kindergarten through 12 to include artificial intelligence literacy in 29
accordance with G.S. 115C-81.90(a1), as enacted by this section. The State Board shall adopt the 30
revised standards for implementation beginning with the 2028-2029 school year. 31
SECTION 1.(c) The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Department 32
of Public Instruction, shall update the lists of approved courses required by G.S. 115C-81.90(b) 33
and (c) to reflect course alignment with the revised computer science standards adopted pursuant 34
to subsection (b) of this section. The State Board shall update the lists for use beginning with the 35
2028-2029 school year. 36

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 Senate Bill 864-First Edition
SECTION 1.(d) The Department of Public Instruction shall report to the Joint 1
Legislative Education Oversight Committee by December 15, 2028, on the following related to 2
the adoption of revised computer science standards in accordance with subsection (b) of this 3
section: 4
(1) Adoption and implementation of the revised standards. 5
(2) Alignment of courses on the approved courses lists as updated pursuant to 6
subsection (c) of this section. 7
(3) Any difficulties with the implementation of the revised standards. 8
9
PART II. PUBLIC SCHOOL UNIT AI POLICIES 10
SECTION 2.(a) Part 3A of Article 8 of Chapter 115C of the General Statutes is 11
amended by adding a new section to read: 12
"§ 115C-102.13. Artificial intelligence policies. 13
The Department of Public Instruction shall develop a model artificial intelligence (AI) policy 14
to serve as guidance to public school units when developing their AI policies. At a minimum, the 15
model policy shall include the following: 16
(1) A definition of AI, generative AI, and AI tools. 17
(2) Guidance on how to develop the AI literacy of students and school staff. AI 18
literacy shall include education about nonconsensual intimate imagery. 19
(3) Data privacy and security measures to protect students and staff, including 20
protecting personally identifiable information, when using AI. 21
(4) Standards of ethical and acceptable use of AI and AI chatbots in an 22
educational setting, including standards of academic integrity when using AI." 23
SECTION 2.(b) G.S. 115C-47 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read: 24
"(73) To Adopt an AI Use Policy. – Local boards of education shall adopt a policy 25
on the use of artificial intelligence by students and staff for educational 26
purposes after review of the model policy developed by the Department of 27
Public Instruction pursuant to G.S. 115C-102.13." 28
SECTION 2.(c) G.S. 115C-150.12C is amended by adding a new subdivision to 29
read: 30
"(39) To adopt an AI use policy. – The board of trustees shall adopt a policy on the 31
use of artificial intelligence by students and staff for educational purposes 32
after review of the mode