Pennsylvania Lawmakers Draft AI Rules for Schools as 35 States Move Ahead
Pennsylvania House lawmakers are working to regulate how schools use artificial intelligence while protecting student data, putting the state in catch-up mode. At least 35 states have already published guidance on AI in education, according to the Education Commission of the States. Pennsylvania's Department of Education has outlined questions for districts to consider, but no official guidance exists.
House Education Committee chair Pete Schweyer (D-Allentown) said the state is behind on AI policy. He told reporters that Democrats and Republicans, along with educators, agree on one thing: nobody opposes AI in classrooms, but everyone wants safeguards around ethics, privacy, and how students learn to use the technology.
The House Education Committee gathered input on Tuesday in Pittsburgh from school leaders and national experts. The committee will hear from higher education leaders at Carnegie Mellon University on Wednesday.
Schools Want State Guardrails
Mark Holtzman, superintendent of Hempfield Area School District, said schools need state involvement to set boundaries. He suggested restricting certain vendors or establishing concepts that prevent overreach.
Holtzman's district has partnered with Carnegie Mellon University to pilot an AI-powered weapons detection system at five entrances to its high school. He framed AI as a safety tool that schools will increasingly rely on.
But school leaders flagged gaps. Educators need more training on AI tools. School districts need funding to ensure every school-not just wealthy ones-can access the technology fairly.
Mark Stuckey, Pittsburgh Public Schools' chief technology officer, told lawmakers that AI companies must disclose what student data they collect and how their models work. "AI biases, student data privacy and educator preparation are not hypothetical risks," Stuckey said. "There are present challenges."
Teachers Want AI to Assist, Not Replace
Representatives from the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers urged the committee to ban replacing educators with AI. Both unions represent millions of teachers nationally.
Robin Vitucci, with AFT's National Academy for AI Instruction, said teachers can use AI to handle administrative work, plan lessons, and tailor instruction to individual students. The technology should elevate teaching, not automate it away.
Last year, a proposed cyber charter school suggested using AI-powered instruction and tutors to lead lessons. State officials rejected the proposal, citing insufficient evidence that the model would work.
Avonworth math teacher Melissa Costantino-Poruben called for a ban on charter schools that rely on AI instruction and a prohibition on districts replacing teachers with AI. She said educators need time to learn AI tools before using them in classrooms.
"I think we really need to give our educators the time to learn and to play with AI tools so that then they find value in it and bring it to their classroom," Costantino-Poruben said.
For educators looking to build skills in this area, resources like an AI Learning Path for Teachers can help. More context on the broader policy landscape is available in our AI for Education coverage.
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