# States race to set guardrails as AI use expands in schools **Published:** 2026-06-10T17:31:04.000Z **Source:** [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/10/repub/as-ai-use-in-schools-grows-lawmakers-and-districts-scramble-to-set-up-guardrails/) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://lincolne.news/article/states-race-to-set-guardrails-as-ai-use-expands-in-schools With artificial intelligence tools now widely accessible to students and educators, state lawmakers and school districts across the nation are scrambling to establish policies to govern their use in classrooms, according to a [recent report from the Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/10/repub/as-ai-use-in-schools-grows-lawmakers-and-districts-scramble-to-set-up-guardrails/). The challenge is urgent and widespread. [Lawmakers filed more than 134 bills across 31 states this year related to AI in education](https://stateline.org/2026/02/03/as-school-cellphone-bans-gain-in-popularity-lawmakers-say-its-time-to-go-bell-to-bell/), focusing on data privacy, usage restrictions, literacy and teacher training. Yet many districts remain without clear guidance. In Maryland, AI usage policies for K-12 schools are "all over the map," according to Democratic state Sen. Katie Fry Hester. Some districts encourage AI use while others restrict it or provide little guidance at all. "What we heard repeatedly is that the teachers were feeling like they had to navigate artificial intelligence entirely on their own," Fry Hester said. The state responded by enacting legislation requiring AI coordinators in each school system, statewide professional development for teachers and AI literacy components in K-12 curricula. The adoption surge follows the 2022 release of ChatGPT, which proved impossible to gatekeep. [A survey by the Center for Democracy and Technology found that 85% of teachers reported using AI in their classrooms during the 2024-25 school year, while 86% of students said they used AI for personal or school-related reasons.](https://cdt.org/press/cdt-survey-research-finds-use-of-ai-in-k-12-schools-connected-to-negative-effects-on-students-including-their-real-life-relationships/) However, only about half received training or information about AI from their schools, and few learned about its risks. Some states have moved faster than others. [Idaho enacted a law requiring local school districts to devise AI usage policies and establish state standards for AI literacy](https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/sessioninfo/2026/legislation/S1227E1.pdf), ensuring no AI system replaces human teachers. [Oklahoma required AI tools to be age-appropriate and mandated teacher review before classroom use, while allowing parental opt-outs.](https://www.oklegislature.gov/cf_pdf/2025-26%20ENR/SB/SB1734%20ENR.PDF) Ohio set a July 1 deadline for every school district to adopt an AI use policy. Nebraska has taken its own approach to AI governance. [The state enacted legislation restricting student smartphone use in schools and requiring social media age verification and parental consent for minors](https://governor.nebraska.gov/gov-pillen-signs-last-bills-protect-children-online), measures designed to limit digital distractions and protect children online. However, concerns about AI's impact on student learning persist. Half of students surveyed said using AI in class made them feel less connected to their teachers, and 70% of teachers worried that students' AI use prevented them from developing important skills. The global K-12 AI market, valued at $391.2 million in 2024, is projected to exceed $9 billion by 2034, raising questions about whether schools are adequately scrutinizing vendor products. Education experts stress the need for balanced policies. Rather than outright bans, most legislative efforts focus on age restrictions, parental opt-outs, transparency requirements and safeguards preventing AI from replacing teachers. [College Board research shows that only about 1 in 5 districts allowing generative AI have formal policies governing its use](https://research.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/ai-research-brief-1_vf.pdf?utm_source), even as students show greater awareness of AI risks than headlines suggest. ## Sources - [Nebraska Examiner](https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/10/repub/as-ai-use-in-schools-grows-lawmakers-and-districts-scramble-to-set-up-guardrails/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Nebraska Examiner, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://nebraskaexaminer.com/2026/06/10/repub/as-ai-use-in-schools-grows-lawmakers-and-districts-scramble-to-set-up-guardrails/.