Maryland Passes Bills to Boost AI Education in Schools and Universities
The Maryland General Assembly passed two bills this session that would expand artificial intelligence education across K-12 and higher education institutions. Gov. Wes Moore must approve both measures before they become law.
The higher education bill creates partnerships between the state and the University System of Maryland. Students would work on state AI projects through a new fellowship and lab, developing prototypes while gaining hands-on experience with the technology.
Sen. Katie Fry Hester (D-Howard and Montgomery), who sponsored both bills, framed AI literacy as a workforce issue rather than a threat. "Workers who know how to use AI will be the ones that thrive," she said at a March hearing.
Charles Harry, an associate research professor at the University of Maryland's public policy and information schools, collaborated on the bill. He outlined practical applications: Maryland could use AI alongside employees to identify risk factors in driver's license renewals or flag issues in tax returns.
The partnership encourages exploration beyond consumer platforms like ChatGPT, Harry said. Students would learn to use AI securely and ethically while working on projects with direct impact at the state level.
K-12 Standards and Local Implementation
The K-12 bill requires Maryland's education department to release guidance on safe, ethical, and educational AI use in schools. The department would provide professional training in AI to educators and make AI literacy a standard component of computer science instruction.
County education boards would need to create AI policies aligned with state guidance. Hester emphasized the equity angle: "Without the state setting some standards, our schools could face disparities in AI readiness and opportunity."
Prince George's County Public Schools, which typically opposes mandates that limit local autonomy, is already in the second year of its three-year AI implementation plan. The framework focuses on ethical AI use and workforce preparation.
Teacher Training Emerges as Critical Need
Jing Liu, an education policy associate professor at the University of Maryland, said professional training for teachers is essential. Many educators lack familiarity with AI tools, and training gaps could limit effective classroom integration.
Teachers could use AI for lesson planning, providing student feedback, and evaluating work. Liu directs the university's educational data science and innovation center and emphasized the need for rubrics to evaluate whether selected AI platforms actually improve learning.
The bills address a broader shift in the labor market. As AI spreads across economic sectors, preparing students for an AI-infused future becomes a core education responsibility, Liu said.
For educators looking to build competency in this area, resources like AI Learning Path for Teachers offer structured training in classroom tools and integration strategies. Additional context on AI for Education covers broader institutional approaches.
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