At a meeting held on the Polk State College campus in Winter Haven, the Florida Board of Education voted to adopt a comprehensive set of rules governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in public K‑12 schools and the 28 institutions of the Florida College System. Education Commissioner Henry Mack framed the action as a proactive step to keep the state “in front” of emerging technology rather than reacting after the fact.
Key requirements for K‑12 districts
Effective for the 2027‑2028 school year, each school district must revise its internet‑safety policies to address AI and must finalize those revisions by July 1, 2027. The new rules include several safeguards aimed at protecting students and families:
- Districts must notify parents whenever a student is slated to use an AI product.
- Parental consent is required before a student may engage with AI tools. If a parent declines, the district must provide an alternative instructional resource that matches the instructional quality of the AI option.
- Any AI used with students in Pre‑K through 5th grade must undergo an additional review and approval process.
- AI tools may not be employed to meet a student’s social or emotional needs, nor may they simulate an emotional relationship or use anthropomorphic design features to encourage interaction.
- AI products are prohibited from conducting undisclosed behavior monitoring, social scoring, or psychological profiling of students.
- Teachers and administrators must complete training on AI risks, limitations, safety and compliance, and they must be able to suspend or disable AI tools without vendor assistance.
- All vendors must keep student data within the United States and are barred from selling, monetizing, profiling or otherwise exploiting that data to train commercial AI models.
Guidelines for state colleges
The Board also directed Florida’s 28 public colleges to adopt AI policies that safeguard the quality of education, operational efficiency and a safe learning environment. College policies must prohibit students from using AI to complete graded assignments or assessments unless an instructor explicitly permits it. The rules echo the K‑12 standards by emphasizing that AI is a supplement—not a replacement—for human instruction.
Commissioner Mack’s rationale
Commissioner Mack emphasized that the state is taking a balanced approach: “We are exercising the virtue of prudence here. We are neither going to one extreme, i.e., banning AI, nor are we going to the other extreme, which is unfettered access. There’s real value in what we’re presenting today.” He described AI as an “enhancement” and a “supplement” that, when used responsibly, can improve learning outcomes without supplanting teachers.
What this means for families
Parents can expect to receive clear notifications about any AI tools their children may encounter in the classroom and will have the right to opt out. Schools must be prepared to offer comparable non‑AI instructional materials, ensuring that a child’s education does not suffer because of a parental decision.
Next steps
School districts now have roughly a year to draft, adopt and publicize their revised AI policies. Colleges will follow a similar timeline, with each institution required to publish its AI policy before the start of the 2027‑2028 academic year. Ongoing oversight will be provided by the state’s Department of Education to ensure compliance and to address any emerging concerns as AI technology continues to evolve.
Original reporting: NBC6 Miami — read the source article.
