Maryland requires AI literacy in all public schools by 2027
Maryland passed the Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act, requiring public schools to teach AI literacy to students from kindergarten through 12th grade. The state education department must develop guidance for schools within 120 days, with local districts establishing their own policies on the same timeline.
Schools must integrate AI literacy into workforce readiness and computer science standards by June 1, 2027. The law also mandates professional development for educators and creates the Maryland AI Education Collaborative to provide recommendations and best practices.
State Sens. Benjamin Brooks, Katie Fry Hester, Kevin M. Harris, Dalya Attar, Brian J. Feldman, and Ron Watson sponsored the legislation.
Why the mandate now
Supporters argue statewide standards are necessary as AI tools become more common in classrooms and workplaces. School districts have adopted varying approaches, creating inconsistency across the state.
"They're going to graduate in a world where nearly every career uses AI in some way," Fry Hester told WBAL-TV 11 News. "I felt like it was our responsibility to make sure that they were prepared to enter the workforce knowing how to use AI."
Fry Hester said the law both embraces AI and establishes guardrails. "I just didn't want Maryland students falling behind simply because their system lacked that level of guidance," she said.
Schools already moving ahead
Some Maryland districts have begun introducing AI tools in classrooms. Howard County high school students have access to education-focused Gemini AI accounts as part of instruction.
Danielle Dunn, a media specialist at Hammond High School, said formal instruction matters because students are already using AI outside school. "If we don't teach kids how to use it, they're going to learn on their own and not learn well," she said.
Broader trend
Maryland joins a growing number of states working to incorporate AI into K-12 education while establishing safeguards. Educators implementing these changes should consider AI for Teachers resources to understand both classroom applications and responsible use practices.
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