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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
artificial intelligence; course; public schools
Purpose
Requires each school district to provide instruction on the ethical,
moral and educational uses of artificial intelligence (AI) to all students in
grades 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12 beginning in the
2027-2028 school year. Directs the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) to
adopt curriculum for the AI instruction as prescribed and outlines reporting
requirements on school districts relating to the AI instruction.
Background
The State Board of Education (SBE) must prescribe a minimum course of
study, academic standards and competency requirements for common schools and
high schools. The minimum course of study must incorporate the academic
standards which are taught in the common schools and are required to graduate
from high school, including reading, writing, mathematics, science and social
studies. A school district governing board must prescribe curricula that
includes the SBE-adopted academic standards, and may prescribe course of study
or competency requirements that are higher than the SBE-adopted course of study
and competency requirements (A.R.S.
§§ 15-701
and 15-701.01).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Requires, beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, each school district to provide instruction on the ethical, moral and educational uses of AI to all students who are enrolled in grades 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12.
2. Requires ADE to adopt a curriculum for the AI instruction that includes instruction on:
a) basic techniques for using AI, including techniques for writing prompts;
b) ethical considerations for using and adopting AI in learning and daily life; and
c) how AI might threaten human health and human existence.
3. Requires ADE, for the purposes of adopting the AI instruction curriculum, to select a curriculum that is developed by an organization that:
a) is a school within an Arizona public university that maintains a campus in the most populous county within Arizona;
b) was established between 2015 and 2018;
c) fosters a culture of intellectual diversity and promotes ideas that are foundational to a healthy constitutional democracy; and
d) serves as a community resource for civic education.
4. Allows school districts to provide the required AI instruction through a separate course for each grade level or by incorporating the equivalent instructional time into existing curricula.
5. Requires, by October 15 of each year, each school district to submit a report to ADE that describes the AI instruction that the school district provides and enrollment metrics for the course or courses through which the AI instruction is provided.
6. Allows ADE to provide any combination of guidelines, resources and grants to school districts for implementation of the prescribed AI instruction.
7. Defines AI as a machine-based system that is able to make predictions, recommendations or decisions, including generative systems that produce content in response to prompts.
8. Contains a statement of legislative findings.
9. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Amendments Adopted by Committee of the Whole
1. Replaces the requirement for each school district to offer the AI instruction with a requirement for each school district to provide the AI instruction to all students enrolled in grades 3, 6, 8, 10 and 12.
2. Requires ADE to adopt a curriculum for the AI instruction that includes instruction on specified topics and that is developed by an organization that meets outlined criteria.
3. Makes technical and conforming changes.
House Action Senate Action
AII 2/12/26 DP 4-2-1-0 ED 3/25/26 DP 4-3-0
3rd Read 3/3/26 31-25-3-0-1
Prepared by Senate Research
June 11, 2026
MH/SM/hk