IL Senate education committee approves bill creating guidance for AI technology in schools

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — An Illinois Senate committee approved legislation Tuesday to help guide the use of artificial intelligence in schools.

The bill requires the Illinois State Board of Education to develop statewide guidance for school districts and educators on the use of AI in elementary and secondary education.

This guidance could include explanations of basic AI concepts and ways the technology can be used at the district, school and classroom levels for teaching and learning purposes. It also calls for guidance on how districts and teachers can evaluate and address bias, privacy, transparency, and risk assessment for use of AI.

"It specifies what information should be included in the guidance and establishes July 1, 2026 as a deadline for the State Board of Education to publish the guidance," said Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield).

A separate provision of the bill requires ISBE to encourage school districts to collect teaching resources to support American Sign Language programs by July 1, 2026. The teaching resources may include information on the importance and benefits of ASL instruction for early ages and its prevalence in the United States, ways to implement ASL instruction into K-8 curriculum, and how to properly administer ASL instruction for students K-8.

Senate Bill 1920 passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee and now moves to the Senate floor. The proposal passed out of the House on a 74-34 vote Friday.

"What we're hearing repeatedly from teachers is that AI is constantly a source of topic and concern among their students and in their classrooms," said Rep. Laura Faver Dias (D-Grayslake). "So, we need the state to step in."