Key Takeaways
- Florida approves new Florida AI Rules for Schools and public colleges.
- Parents must opt into AI use for their children.
- Schools must supervise AI use and maintain approved tool lists.
Florida education officials on Wednesday approved new AI rules for K-12 schools and public colleges, requiring adult oversight, parental consent, and human review to protect students while preserving educational uses.
Florida Sets Limits On Student AI Use
The Florida Board of Education approves Florida AI Rules for Schools that restrict how artificial intelligence can be used in schools and public colleges while allowing educators to use approved tools for instruction.
Students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade may use autonomous AI tools only under direct adult supervision. AI also cannot make decisions without human review.
Education Commissioner Henry Mack says the policy is designed to avoid both a complete ban and unrestricted access to AI.
“We are neither going to one extreme, i.e., banning AI, nor are we going to the other extreme, which is just unfettered access,” Mack said.
Paul Burns, senior chancellor at the Florida Department of Education, says the rules are intended to protect students from inappropriate content while giving teachers access to high-quality educational tools.
Parents Get More Control Over AI Tools
School districts must notify parents when an AI tool receives approval for instructional use. Parents must choose to allow their children to use the tool rather than having to opt out.
Districts also must review AI tools under the Florida AI Rules for Schools proposed for students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to ensure they are appropriate for students’ age and development.
The policy requires AI tools to be viewpoint-neutral and prohibits undisclosed monitoring of students. Districts must also provide teacher and administrator training on AI risks and safety.
Each district must maintain a publicly accessible list of approved AI teaching tools.
The rules prohibit schools and colleges from using AI systems designed to simulate friendship or an emotional relationship with a student.
Colleges Face New AI Requirements
Public colleges must notify parents when minors use AI in their classes under the Florida AI Rules for Schools. Students also cannot use AI on graded assignments unless their instructor approves it.
Maya Israel, co-director of Florida’s K-12 AI Education Task Force and a University of Florida professor, said the policy reflects priorities that have guided the task force’s recommendations.
She said data privacy, parental consent, and student safety remain central concerns as schools adopt AI tools.
Critics initially argued the guidelines were too broad and could limit teachers’ ability to use technology to support students with disabilities.
Israel said the policy is more explicit about parental choice and alternatives to AI. She said districts will need to determine how those alternatives work and ensure students still receive appropriate instruction.
Districts and colleges also face the challenge of keeping training and classroom practices aligned with the rapidly changing Florida AI Rules for Schools and AI technology.
“But the tools are moving very quickly, shifting very quickly, and so that’s a real big challenge,” Israel said. “The other challenge is around professional development.”
She said educators need training that helps them align AI use with research-backed teaching practices.