Ohio spearheads classroom curriculums on accountable AI use

By Terri Dee

Starting today, most Ohio school boards must adopt a formal artificial intelligence instructional policy for kindergarten through 12th grade.

The initiative began in 2024, when former Lt. Gov. John Husted, local universities, businesses and the state Department of Higher Education assembled a model policy toolkit for instructors to use.

Chris Woolard, chief integration officer with the Ohio Department of Education, said he expects AI instruction to be an essential stepping stone for students’ futures.

“We’ve got 1.6 million students in Ohio," Woolard said, "and we want to make sure that they have the skills necessary when they walk across the stage; that they’re prepared for what’s next.”

The policy toolkit is meant to guide districts in setting clear standards for privacy, data quality, ethical AI use and academic honesty. It also helps districts study AI’s influence on learning, determine how it affects business operations and identify the most desired skills in the evolving job market.

The state recommends that every district create a local task force or committee to help implement the policy. Woolard said it is important for educators to maintain flexible teaching plans.

“We don’t want people to get overwhelmed, and we don’t want people just to start doing things just for the sake of doing things,” Woolard said. “But how do you do so in a responsible way, that’s connected to your own priorities and values?”

The model policy also addresses online bullying and AI-generated harassment or deepfakes.