Maryland State Department of Education to develop guidance on how schools should use AI for instruction
Maryland State Department of Education to develop guidance on how schools should use AI for instruction
Maryland State Department of Education to develop guidance on how schools should use AI for instruction
Maryland’s Artificial Intelligence Ready School Act took effect Monday, creating statewide guidance for the technology’s use in schools.
The new law requires school districts to develop policies and prepare students for an AI-driven workforce.
The idea of using AI in schools is still something that gets mixed reactions.
“I think it’s used too much,” said Dara Hoffman.
“I think there is a gray area where it’s coming out and people should know how to use it, but also know how to use it carefully and not just use it for answers and cheating and things like that,” said Natalie Barber.
The legislation’s sponsor, Sen. Katie Fry Hester, D-District 9, explained her motivation for the law.
“As a mom, I have just been super concerned about my kids’ interaction with it,” Hester told WBAL-TV 11 News. “They’re older now, but I know it’s affecting all of the grades, and I think all of our students across Maryland, they’re going to graduate in a world where nearly every career uses AI in some way, and so, I felt like it was our responsibility to make sure that they were prepared to enter the workforce knowing how to use AI.”
The senator, who represents a district that encompasses portions of Howard and Montgomery counties, explained how districts across the state had varying policies.
"If we don't teach kids how to use it, they're going to learn on their own and not learn well."
“(The law) embraces (AI) and it also puts the guardrails in place. What we found was that some of the districts across the state were using AI in a pretty aggressive way. Others were banning certain tools, and many of the teachers had, like, little or no training,” Hester told WBAL-TV 11 News. “I just didn’t want Maryland students falling behind simply because their system lacked that level of guidance.”
Maryland State Department of Education leaders will develop guidance on how schools should use AI for instruction in grades K-12. The school districts will have to develop policies, get AI tools that align with the guidance and appoint an AI coordinator.
| MSDE: Artificial Intelligence in schools
The law also provides professional development in AI for educators and school leaders, incorporates AI literacy into workforce preparation and computer science standards for K-12 students, and establishes an AI collaborative to share lessons, best practices and recommendations statewide.
Some districts, like Howard County, have already started integrating AI into classrooms. High school students in Howard County have access to education-based Gemini AI accounts.
“If we don’t teach kids how to use it, they’re going to learn on their own and not learn well,” said Danielle Dunn, a media specialist at Hammond High School in Columbia.
Hester confirmed that MSDE has started developing the guidance, which is expected to be rolled out soon.
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