ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland is creating new rules for how artificial intelligence (AI) can be used in public schools, from classroom assignments and tutoring programs to student records and teacher training.
Gov. Wes Moore signed Senate Bill 720, known as the Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act, on May 26, 2026. The act creates the Maryland AI Education Collaborative on Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education to help develop statewide guidance that local school systems will use when writing their own policies for the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
The changes will affect all 24 local school systems, including Calvert County Public Schools, Charles County Public Schools and St. Mary’s County Public Schools.
What The New Law Does
The law requires the Maryland State Department of Education to provide online AI guidance for school systems, educators, students and families.
The department must also create a statewide evaluation rubric that school systems can use before choosing AI programs for classrooms or administrative work.
Each local school system will be required to:
- Adopt an AI policy that follows state guidance.
- Name an AI coordinator.
- Use the state’s evaluation tools when reviewing AI products.
- Follow state standards when purchasing AI technology.
- Provide AI-related training for educators and school leaders.
The AI coordinator must work at the school system’s central office and serve as a link between the local district and the state.
State guidance is expected to focus on the safe, responsible, ethical and fair use of AI.
It must also explain how student privacy and accessibility laws apply when artificial intelligence is used in schools.
The state’s evaluation process will help districts decide whether an AI tool meets Maryland standards before it is approved for use. The rubric may be updated as technology, laws and state policies change.
The Maryland State Board of Education received a presentation on the state’s AI guidance during its Feb. 24 meeting.
What The Collaborative Will Do
The new Maryland AI Education Collaborative will study how AI is already being used in local school systems and recommend best practices for the future.
Its work will include examining:
- How schools use artificial intelligence.
- How educators should be trained.
- How school systems should create AI policies.
- How state academic standards may need to change.
- How schools can use AI while protecting students.
The panel will be led by a person appointed by the state superintendent of schools. It will also include representatives from state education, workforce and school organizations.
There is no seat reserved specifically for Southern Maryland. However, the panel’s recommendations will apply to Calvert, Charles and St. Mary’s counties along with every other public school system in the state.
St. Mary’s County Begins Local Rollout
St. Mary’s County Public Schools has already begun preparing for greater use of artificial intelligence.
The St. Mary’s County Board of Education approved Microsoft Copilot as the district’s primary AI platform during its June 24 meeting.
Superintendent J. Scott Smith told the board that access would be introduced in stages.
“Turning on AI Copilot for our administrators July 1, for our teachers Jan. 1. And then for our students … next year, so a lot — we’re going to do a lot of AI training,” Smith said.
Administrators began receiving access and training July 1, 2026. Teachers are expected to receive access beginning Jan. 1, 2027, followed by students during the next school year.
Upcoming Deadlines
The Collaborative must recommend a process for regularly updating state academic standards to address artificial intelligence by Jan. 1, 2027.
Its first annual report is due Dec. 1, 2027, to the Maryland State Board of Education, the Accountability and Implementation Board and the General Assembly.
The part of the law creating the Collaborative is scheduled to expire May 31, 2028, unless lawmakers extend it.
Read the full Maryland State Department of Education K-12 AI Guidance below.
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