Artificial Intelligence Guidance for Maryland K-12 Schools

Maryland's statewide K-12 AI framework treats AI as a tool in service of educators — mandating human oversight, FERPA/COPPA/PPRA compliance, equity monitoring, and vendor vetting — and pairs it with LEA planning, classroom, and procurement companions.

Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) — Artificial Intelligence Guidance for K-12 Schools. Presented to the State Board of Education on February 24, 2026 by Richard Kincaid, Assistant State Superintendent, Division of College and Career Pathways. The submission bundles a State Board memo from Superintendent Carey M. Wright, an executive summary, the Maryland Framework for Responsible AI in Education, a Local Action Planning Guide, a Teaching with AI Classroom Companion, SEA and LEA Responsibilities documents, a District Policy Considerations framework, and an AI Tools Evaluation Rubric.

Executive Summary. (1) MSDE has established a comprehensive statewide AI framework grounded in human judgment, equity, privacy, academic integrity, and continuous improvement to ensure AI supports, rather than replaces, educator expertise. (2) A coordinated suite of implementation tools gives LEAs structured mechanisms to adopt, govern, and monitor AI responsibly across instruction, operations, procurement, and professional learning. (3) MSDE's approach balances innovation with risk management and positions Maryland as a national leader in safe, equitable, and transparent AI integration in K-12.

Background. AI is increasingly embedded in instructional platforms, productivity tools, and operational systems across Maryland public schools. It offers opportunities to support differentiated instruction, streamline administrative work, and prepare students for a technology-driven economy, while introducing risks tied to privacy, bias, academic integrity, and over-reliance. MSDE built a human-centered framework that establishes statewide guardrails while preserving local autonomy in tool selection. Human relationships, professional expertise, and student wellbeing remain central. The guidance is grounded in equity, transparency, privacy, accountability, and continuous improvement, and it defines roles for MSDE, LEAs, schools, educators, students, families, and vendors across instructional, operational, procurement, and governance domains.

Vision for AI in Maryland Schools. AI should enhance, not replace, the educators, counselors, and school leaders who remain Maryland's primary decision makers. Professional judgment, cultural competence, and human relationships cannot be replaced by AI. AI literacy is treated as a core skill so learners can assess reliability, identify bias, understand underlying assumptions, and make informed technology choices. Equity, transparency, privacy, and accountability are foundational. Maryland commits to equitable access to AI-supported learning and to protecting student data through clear communication, human oversight, and compliance with all state and federal privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical standards. Guidance will be reviewed and updated regularly.

Scope and Definitions. Applies to adoption, use, evaluation, and governance of AI in Maryland public schools, covering all AI tools that interact with Maryland students, staff, or data. Key terms include Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Generative AI, Large Language Models, AI Literacy, and Assistive/Instructional/Operational AI. The document sets statewide expectations but does not approve or prohibit specific tools, does not require adoption of particular technologies, does not replace existing law, is not a technical specification, and does not apply outside K-12 public education. LEAs retain authority over tool selection and implementation strategies.

Roles and Responsibilities. Defines complementary responsibilities across MSDE (SEA), LEAs, schools, educators, students, families, and vendors, so accountability for safe and effective AI use is shared rather than fragmented.

Data Privacy and Security. AI systems must comply with FERPA, COPPA, PPRA, Maryland Student Data Privacy Act obligations, cybersecurity standards, and MSDE's AI Cyber Security Policy (Version 2, Fall 2025), which draws on Maryland DoIT Interim AI Guidance, NIST Standards, and Senate Bill 818. Vendor contracts must clearly define data ownership, retention, use limitations, and breach notification.

Equity and Access. AI systems must be monitored for bias and disparate impact. Access to AI-supported learning must be equitable across schools and student groups, and instructional design must include intentional planning, educator oversight, and reflection to ensure AI does not widen existing gaps.

Academic Integrity and Assessment. Schools must clearly define appropriate AI use, require transparency and attribution from students, and align policies to preserve authentic evidence of student learning. Instructional design continues to prioritize student-to-student discussion, educator feedback, and the development of independent thinking.

Professional Learning. Educators need sustained professional learning in AI literacy, ethical use, instructional design with AI, and evaluation of AI outputs, with supports from the MSDE AI Hub, K-12 AI Leadership Summit, Future Ready AI in Education Summit, and LEA showcases.

Student-Centered Learning and AI Literacy. AI is integrated into curriculum consistent with Maryland's Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards, so students learn to use AI critically, understand its limits and biases, and apply it responsibly across subjects.

Operational and Administrative Uses. AI may support scheduling, communication, translation, accessibility, data analysis, and routine administrative work, subject to the same privacy, equity, and human-oversight expectations that apply to instructional use.

Procurement and Vendor Governance. Districts must apply structured evaluation criteria and contractual protections before adopting AI tools. MSDE provides a standardized AI Tools Evaluation Rubric to support rigorous vetting prior to pilot approval, alongside a District Policy Considerations framework.

Companion Resources. Local Action Planning Guide (LEA readiness, governance, sequencing); Teaching with AI Classroom Companion (translates statewide guardrails into instructional expectations and classroom routines); defined SEA and LEA Responsibilities; District Policy Considerations; and the AI Tool Evaluation Rubric. Collectively these form a coherent governance architecture aligned to the Blueprint for Maryland's Future, Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards, cybersecurity guidance, and civil rights protections.

Stakeholder Input. Developed with feedback from the SREB Commission and K-12 Instructional Subcommittee, the AI Strategy and Leadership Network (ILO Group), the Computer Science Teachers Association, the Maryland AI Subcabinet, TeachAI, the MSDE AI K-12 Stakeholder Workgroup, and collaborations with Maryland Public Television, the Maryland Center for Computer Education, and Code.org. Superintendent feedback prioritized flexible guidance over mandates, professional learning, collaborative networks, clear communication, and integration with existing priorities.