South Carolina Lawmakers Push for AI Integration and Stronger Cybersecurity in Education

South Carolina Department of Education Advances AI and Cybersecurity Measures

South Carolina lawmakers are urging the Department of Education to update its systems by integrating artificial intelligence and enhancing cybersecurity protections. This push comes as technology increasingly influences both classroom instruction and administrative operations.

Legislative Oversight Committee Highlights Need for Efficiency

During a recent Legislative Oversight Committee meeting in Columbia, state officials reviewed the department’s performance and stressed the importance of adopting modern technologies. Lawmakers emphasized streamlining processes to handle the growing number of students and administrative tasks more effectively.

“The number of students that you're serving is growing so dramatically, you really need to make sure you're evaluating anything you can evaluate,” said Rep. Paul Wickensimer, R-Greenville. “Mechanize that, automate that, so you can be more efficient."

Department of Education’s Approach to AI

The Department has begun integrating AI into employee workflows and is developing guidelines to help school districts use AI tools in classrooms responsibly. Rebecca Gunnlaugsson, the department’s chief of staff, explained the balanced approach:

“If a student just uses AI to write a paper, it actually decreases their learning. But if we use it as an online tutor that guides them in writing themselves, we see an increase in their ability to learn.”

To support these efforts, the department is collaborating with U.S. Digital Response, a nonprofit experienced in AI frameworks, including work with military applications. This partnership will produce a 12-week program to review current systems, recommend policies, and train staff on AI integration.

Strengthening Cybersecurity After Recent Breach

Following a data breach in January involving the state's PowerSchool system—a widely used student information platform—the department has implemented a new cybersecurity framework. This framework follows the Center for Internet Security’s Security Protocol Framework, which requires compliance with 156 security standards.

Gunnlaugsson noted, “We are rolling out cybersecurity standards across the entire state or districts, and we're going to do it in a way that's really supportive of the districts and allows them to take charge of it, but we will support them in doing that.”

Next Steps for the Department

The Legislative Oversight Committee will compile its observations and recommendations into a final report aimed at improving the department’s operations. These changes are expected to enhance efficiency, support educators, and protect sensitive student data.

For educators interested in how AI can be safely and effectively incorporated into teaching, resources such as Complete AI Training’s courses offer practical guidance on AI tools and their classroom applications.