- A. The Legislature finds that technology in the classroom including artificial intelligence is increasingly present and pervasive in educational environments. Classroom teachers play an essential and irreplaceable role in a student’s educational career, and artificial intelligence tools, when used in classrooms, should supplement educator-led instruction, not supplant it. The absence of consistent guardrails for student-facing emerging technologies may increase risks to student data privacy and instructional integrity.
B. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma Responsible Technology in Schools Act”. The purpose of the act is to provide clarity, accountability, and consistency by:
- 1. Establishing principles and guardrails for the appropriate and responsible use of artificial intelligence in public school districts in this state;
- 2. Protecting student data, privacy, and educational integrity;
- 3. Preserving local control and educator discretion; and
- 4. Supporting transparency to students and families.
C. As used in this act:
- 1. “Artificial intelligence” or “AI” means a system or application consistent with the definition set forth in 15 U.S.C., Section 9401(3);
- 2. “Classroom AI tool” means an artificial intelligence application used to support instruction, learning activities, assessment assistance, or educator workflows in a school setting;
- 3. “Educator-directed AI use” means use of an artificial intelligence tool under the supervision and professional judgment of a teacher or school employee;
- 4. “Student-facing AI tool” means an artificial intelligence tool designed for use by students that provides AI-generated content, feedback, or assistance as part of an instructional activity; and
- 5. “Human-in-the-loop” means that an educator or authorized school employee maintains oversight, review, and final decision-making authority over outputs generated by an artificial intelligence tool.
- D. Artificial intelligence tools used for instructional or educational purposes in public school districts in this state shall be implemented under the direction of an educator, subject to applicable law and the policy of the school district board of education.
E. If artificial intelligence is used in a public school district in this state, such use shall be subject to the following:
- 1. All classroom AI tools shall be deployed through educator-directed AI use. The responsibility for decisions informed by artificial intelligence shall remain with school employees and shall not be delegated to an artificial intelligence system or vendor;
- 2. Classroom AI tools and student-facing AI tools shall operate with a human-in-the-loop. Outputs generated by artificial intelligence shall be reviewed by an educator or authorized school employee prior to use in instruction, feedback, assessment, or decision-making;
- 3. Artificial intelligence tools shall not be used as the primary basis for student grading, discipline, placement, promotion, retention, or other high-stakes educational decisions;
- 4. Student-facing AI tools shall be appropriate to the age and developmental level of students and shall be used only for clearly defined educational or instructional purposes;
- 5. Artificial intelligence tools shall comply with applicable federal and state student data privacy and security laws including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) and shall meet recognized industry standards or otherwise stringent private audit and security standards. School districts shall take reasonable steps to minimize the amount of student data shared with artificial intelligence tools; and
- 6. School districts in this state shall address transparency regarding the instructional use of artificial intelligence including communication to students and families regarding the role and limitations of such tools.
F. Each school district shall provide parents or legal guardians of students enrolled in the district with a written disclosure not less than annually. The disclosure shall identify:
- 1. All artificial intelligence tools in use in the district;
- 2. The vendors providing the artificial intelligence tools;
- 3. The categories of student data collected;
- 4. The extent to which student data is shared; and
- 5. The educational purpose for which each artificial intelligence tool is used.
- G. The parent or legal guardian of a student enrolled in a school district may provide written notice opting the student out of participating in student-facing AI tools at any time. Students who opt out shall not be academically penalized or denied access to core instructional content.
- H. The State Department of Education shall develop and make available guidance regarding the responsible use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for public school districts in this state.
I. Prior to the beginning of the 2027-2028 school year, each school district board of education shall adopt and maintain a policy governing the use of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies. The policy shall at a minimum:
- 1. Identify roles or school employees responsible for approving and overseeing the use of artificial intelligence tools;
- 2. Address appropriate instructional uses and prohibited uses;
- 3. Address student data protection and data minimization practices;
- 4. Address transparency to students and families;
- 5. Provide for periodic review and updates; and
- 6. Comply with the provisions set forth in subsection E of this section and the guidance developed by the State Department of Education.
J. Nothing in this section shall be construed to:
- 1. Require a public school district in this state to use artificial intelligence in any school; or
- 2. Limit the authority of school district boards of education to make decisions regarding instructional methods or technology use.
- K. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.
Laws 2026, SB 1734, c. 401, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2026.