- States are increasingly adopting policies and guidelines that specify how colleges and universities can use AI for instruction, operations, and the job market, according to a new report issued by the Education Commission of the States.
More and more universities are offering degree programs or other training focused on AI, the report states. Examples include the University of Texas at Austin, which offers a master's degree in Artificial Intelligence that students earn through a 100% online course, and Carnegie Mellon University, which offers a bachelor’s degree in Artificial Intelligence.
At least 33 states and Washington, D.C. have current or former task forces and commissions to deal with AI in education. At least 26 of the commissions put out reports with guidelines and recommendations, many of which deal with ethical use of AI and partnerships between K-12 systems, higher education, and industry, the report found.
The bigger picture:
The report says the higher education community is “both optimistic about the opportunities AI presents and concerned about the risks associated with its use"; across the higher ed landscape, the growing excitement about AI's capabilities are juxtaposed against a growing concern about AI “running rampant on college campuses” and worries that “everyone is cheating their way through college” with the help of AI.
The authors listed nine recommendations intended to guide K-12 and higher ed institutions as they consider adopting AI in their curricula and workflows:
- Build Statewide Connectivity: Create dedicated AI networks to streamline communication and foster collaboration among state agencies and educational stakeholders.
- Tailor User Guidance: Produce specific frameworks and instructions for the various groups responsible for implementing or supporting AI in the classroom.
- Invest in Educator Training: Partner with local districts and colleges to design and incentivize comprehensive professional development programs focused on AI literacy.
- Modernize Curricula: Embed essential AI competencies into educational standards to ensure students are equipped for a shifting labor market.
- Evaluate Readiness: Conduct thorough assessments of local schools and postsecondary institutions to gauge their technical and operational capacity for AI integration.
- Secure Sustainable Funding: Develop strategic resource allocation models to ensure AI initiatives are financially viable, long-lasting, and equitably accessible to all students.
- Prioritize Risk Mitigation: Implement robust risk management protocols and statewide oversight to identify and reduce potential harms associated with automated technologies.
- Refine Purchasing Standards: Establish rigorous procurement policies to assist institutions in selecting AI tools that directly support their specific academic missions.
- Sync Workforce Pipelines: Align AI strategies across K-12, higher education, and economic development agencies to create a unified path toward an AI-driven economy.
While the report outlines positive ways that states can leverage AI to meet workforce needs and prepare people for what it describes as an “AI-driven economy,” the report also provides examples of how states are passing laws to prevent AI from being used in certain professions. For instance, it notes how in 2025, Nevada lawmakers passed Assembly Bill 406, which, among other things, prohibits mental and behavioral health providers from using AI to provide mental and behavioral health treatment.
