Florida moves to regulate AI in classrooms from PreK through university

Florida advances comprehensive AI education policies

Florida is moving to regulate artificial intelligence use across its entire education system, with state boards governing PreK-12 schools, community colleges, and universities all advancing policies this fall to address AI's growing presence in classrooms.

The Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state's 12 public universities, will review language next week requiring each campus to establish policies mandating that course syllabi disclose faculty use of AI and permitted student use. The initiative stems from a Task Force on Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity created earlier this year to address the technology's integration into higher education.

Meanwhile, the Florida Board of Education has scheduled a September 16 vote on regulations that would require K-12 public and charter schools, as well as the state's 28 community colleges, to implement AI policies by July 1, 2027.

K-12 schools face detailed requirements

Under the proposed K-12 rules, school districts and charter school governing boards would need to amend their internet safety policies to address AI. The regulations would require schools to protect students, parents, and teachers from "unlawful, deceptive, unsafe, or unauthorized uses" of AI systems used in educational programs.

Schools would be required to notify parents when teachers approve an AI instructional tool, including the platform name, which classes will use it, and how students will interact with it. Parents would have the right to object to AI use and request alternatives.

The draft policy includes specific prohibitions on using AI to meet students' social or emotional needs, simulate friendship or companionship, or employ design features intended to encourage continued interaction. Schools would also need to conduct additional reviews for AI tools used in PreK-5 classrooms to ensure age appropriateness.

Student data collected through AI tools could not be used for profit or to train commercial AI models. Schools must maintain records of student interactions with AI tools for at least 30 days and make their approved AI tools and policies publicly available.

Protecting educators and academic integrity

The proposed regulations explicitly state that AI instructional tools should supplement, not replace, teachers' professional judgment. Schools would need to address plagiarism concerns, define permissible classroom use, and establish methods for verifying student work and demonstrating mastery without AI assistance.

Teachers and administrators would receive training on AI safety, risks, and compliance requirements.

College system policies mirror K-12 approach

The 28 state colleges would operate under similar guidelines, with boards of trustees responsible for creating policies that ensure education quality, operational efficiency, and a safe learning environment. Like the K-12 rules, college policies would prohibit AI from simulating emotional relationships with students and would require notification to parents of minor students taking college courses that involve AI.

Why it matters

Florida's coordinated approach to AI regulation across all education levels represents one of the most comprehensive state-level efforts to govern classroom technology use. The policies attempt to balance innovation with student protection, addressing concerns about data privacy, academic integrity, and the appropriate role of AI in learning environments. The requirement that AI supplement rather than replace teachers also sets a precedent as education systems nationwide grapple with automation's impact on instruction.

Andrew Spar, president of the Florida Education Association, expressed support for the protective measures, stating that policies must ensure parental notification, student data protection, age-appropriate use, and educator support.

These details were first reported by the Florida Phoenix. The DeSantis administration did not respond to requests for comment on the proposed regulations.