In this subtitle, “artificial intelligence” has the meaning stated in § 3.5–801 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

The Department shall provide guidance on artificial intelligence to local school systems, educators, parents, and students through an online platform that: Promotes the safe, responsible, equitable, and ethical use of artificial intelligence; Promotes artificial intelligence literacy through computer science education; Emphasizes students and teachers at the center of educational technology; Prioritizes the educational needs of students using evidence–based approaches and methodologies; and Addresses how State and federal privacy and accessibility standards apply to the use of artificial intelligence instruction in schools. The Department, in consultation with other interested stakeholders, shall publish separately on its website guidance for each of the following groups: Students; Educators; Administrators; and Parents and guardians. Each year, the Department shall review the guidance and update the guidance as necessary. The Department shall develop strategies to assist county boards and county superintendents to implement the guidelines and best practices developed by the Department under this section. On or before 120 days from the date that the Department releases the guidance required under subsection (a)(1) of this section, each local school system shall have an artificial intelligence policy aligned with the guidance. Each local school system shall designate a coordinator between the local school system and the State on the productive and ethical use of systems of artificial intelligence in the local school system. A coordinator designated under paragraph (1) of this subsection shall be an individual who is employed at the central office administration level as noninstructional staff. The Department shall develop and publish a rubric and other evaluative tools, as necessary, to assist local school systems in the evaluation of artificial intelligence tools selected for use by the local school system. The rubric shall be designed to support local school systems in determining whether artificial intelligence tools are consistent with State guidelines. Each local school system shall use the rubric and other evaluative tools developed by the Department in the review and selection of artificial intelligence tools for use within the local school system. The Department periodically may review and update the rubric as necessary to reflect changes in technology, law, or State policy. On request, Morgan State University, or another 4–year institution of higher education in the State, may support local school systems in assessing the tools against the rubric. Local school systems shall procure artificial intelligence tools consistent with the provisions of Title 3.5, Subtitle 8 of the State Finance and Procurement Article.

On or before June 1, 2027, the Department, in consultation with the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, shall ensure that artificial intelligence literacy is a component of workforce preparation standards and computer science standards for kindergarten through grade 12. The Department shall provide professional development in artificial intelligence to educators and school leaders that: Is sufficient in duration and quality to prepare the educators and school leaders: For the professional use of artificial intelligence; To apply artificial intelligence to instruction; and To understand ethical considerations of artificial intelligence; Provides substantive coverage of: The purpose of artificial intelligence in education; Basic artificial intelligence vocabulary and concepts; How artificial intelligence works; Effective classroom use cases, including to streamline administrative tasks, to support specially designed instruction, and to provide timely feedback; and Effective use, privacy, security, academic integrity, and means of avoiding overdependence; and Is offered: During the employee’s regular workday as part of time designated for professional development; or As a course that is eligible for credit toward licensure renewal.

In this section, “Collaborative” means the Maryland AI Education Collaborative on Artificial Intelligence in K–12 Education. There is a Maryland AI Education Collaborative on Artificial Intelligence in K–12 Education. The Collaborative consists of the following members: The State Superintendent, or the State Superintendent’s designee; The Executive Director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education, or the Executive Director’s designee; The President of the Maryland State Education Association, or the President’s designee; The President of the Maryland Association of School Personnel Administrators, or the President’s designee; The President of the Baltimore Teachers Union, or the President’s designee; The Executive Director of the Public School Superintendents’ Association of Maryland, or the Executive Director’s designee; Five coordinators designated by the county boards under § 7–2202(d) of this subtitle; Three representatives from nonprofit organizations that represent parents; Three representatives from student organizations; One representative from a statewide organization that represents students with disabilities; One representative from a statewide organization that represents multilingual families and students; Three representatives from labor unions that represent teachers, administrators, and school support staff; The President of the Maryland Chapter of the Computer Science Teachers Association, or the President’s designee; The Executive Director of the Maryland Center for Computing Education, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Chair of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board, or the Chair’s designee; and One representative from Morgan State University. It is the intent of the General Assembly that the educators consulted by the Collaborative shall represent diverse subject areas and licensure areas, including general and special educators. The State Superintendent shall designate the chair of the Collaborative and may establish subcommittees of the Collaborative. The Department: Shall provide staff for the Collaborative; and May partner or contract with an organization to support the Collaborative. A member of the Collaborative: May not receive compensation as a member of the Collaborative; but Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Collaborative shall: Study the uses of artificial intelligence in each local school system, including a review of innovation by industry and philanthropic support of schools in the use of artificial intelligence; and Make findings and recommendations regarding: The development or update of the guidance and best practices for county boards under § 7–2202 of this subtitle; The implementation of best practices for relevant professional development; and The adoption of policies and procedures regarding the development, procurement, implementation, utilization, and ongoing assessment of systems that employ artificial intelligence by a county board. On or before January 1, 2027, based on best practices from across the country, the Collaborative shall recommend a process for the State Board to update on a regular basis relevant State content standards to address the role of artificial intelligence. On or before December 1, 2027, and each December 1 thereafter, the Collaborative shall report its findings and recommendations to the State Board and the Accountability and Implementation Board and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on: Professional development offered by local school systems and participants in each professional development activity disaggregated by role; Statewide adoption of artificial intelligence guidance; The use of artificial intelligence in instruction; The instruction on artificial intelligence in each local school system; and The use of artificial intelligence in administrative tasks.