New Illinois proposal could help evaluate, implement AI technology in schools | Top Stories

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — State lawmakers are considering legislation this spring to help guide use of artificial intelligence in schools. Teachers and lawmakers believe there is an urgent need for regulation as schools navigate AI’s growing role in education.

A new plan in Springfield could create the state’s first framework for evaluating and implementing AI technology in schools. The bill calls for an Instructional Technology Advisory Board to provide guidance, oversight and evaluation of AI technology for education. This comes after Teach Plus Illinois and the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance surveyed over 200 teachers last year to find out what they thought of AI and resources they already used.

“We found more than 90% of teachers find that AI is something they believe will make a great difference for students in the future,” said Teach Plus Illinois Policy Director Bill Curtin. “But, less than half of them were getting training from their districts or schools on how to use it safely or well.”

Sponsors told WAND News the advisory board would work with the Illinois State Board of Education to develop standards for safety, transparency and data privacy for any AI that may be used in schools.

“Teachers and administrators have so much on their plates these days,” said Rep. Laura Faver Dias (D-Grayslake). “So I think it’s really important, in this really unknown territory of this brand new technology, that the state is leading the way to offer guidance on how to best use it and best navigate it.”

The proposal also requires publication of AI tool evaluations as a non-binding resource for school districts. Guidance and training programs for educators could be required as well.

“How can we make things more efficient? How can we harness this AI technology to make life easier for our teachers,” Faver Dias asked. “How can we teach our students how to responsibly use this technology? This technology is not going away.”

The State Board of Education would be required to provide this guidance to all school districts and charter schools by the end of this year and no later than July 1 of each subsequent year.

“We know that this technology is advancing really quickly,” Curtin said. “Whatever policy that we make today or next year, no matter how much information we gather, it’s going to continue to change.”

The AI plan has not been assigned to a House or Senate committee at this time. However, lawmakers could start talking about the measure when they return to Springfield next week. 

Copyright 2025. WAND TV. All rights reserved.