A5643

An Act concerning artificial intelligence in education and supplementing chapter 6 and chapter 35 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. a. There is established in the Department of Education the Division of Artificial Intelligence Learning. The administrator and head of the division shall be a person qualified by training and experience to perform the duties of the division, whose entire time shall be devoted to the performance of those duties. The purpose of the division shall be to oversee the safe, transparent, and responsible implementation and integration of artificial intelligence in the public schools of the State. The division shall:

(1) keep use of artificial intelligence in the schools purposeful and safe;

(2) protect privacy and integrity;

(3) build artificial intelligence literacy;

(4) maintain appropriate restraint and oversight;

(5) promote equity and accessibility; and

(6) support transparency and continuous improvement.

b. The duties of the division shall be to:

(1) conduct ongoing research on the appropriate uses of artificial intelligence in public education;

(2) develop guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence by students, differentiated by grade level;

(3) develop guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence for school district administrators and other district staff;

(4) create a variety of learning modules for educators on incorporating artificial intelligence into curricula and exercising appropriate restraint;

(5) monitor emerging artificial intelligence applications and assess their impact on the delivery of educational services and on student groups; and

(6) conduct such other work as the Commissioner of Education deems appropriate.

2. a. A school district shall not incorporate the use of artificial intelligence by students into any element of the curriculum offered to students enrolled in preschool through grade 10. Students in these grades shall be provided with technology instruction that builds a foundation in computer literacy and develops critical thinking skills, consistent with the provisions of State law and the New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Technology instruction shall develop students’ research capabilities and establish familiarity with computer applications required for future workforce success.

b. A school district shall offer curriculum on artificial intelligence to students enrolled in the 11th and 12th grades that includes content on:

(1) the history of artificial intelligence;

(2) the effects of artificial intelligence on cognitive development; and

(3) artificial intelligence applications in research, workplaces, higher education, and daily life.

3. This act shall take effect immediately and section 2 of this act shall first apply to the first school year beginning after the date of enactment.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes in the Department of Education the Division of Artificial Intelligence Learning. The purpose of the division is to oversee the safe, transparent, and responsible implementation and integration of artificial intelligence in the public schools of the State. Under the bill, the division will:

· conduct ongoing research on the appropriate uses of artificial intelligence in public education;

· develop guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence by students, differentiated by grade level;

· develop guidelines on the use of artificial intelligence by school district administrators and other district staff;

· create a variety of learning modules for educators on incorporating artificial intelligence into curricula and exercising appropriate restraint;

· monitor emerging artificial intelligence applications and assess their impact on the delivery of educational services and on student groups; and

· conduct such other work as the Commissioner of Education deems appropriate.

This bill prohibits a school district from incorporating artificial intelligence into any element of the curriculum offered to students enrolled in preschool through grade 10. The bill directs each school district to offer curriculum on artificial intelligence to students enrolled in the 11th and 12th grades that includes content on:

· the history of artificial intelligence;

· the effects of artificial intelligence on cognitive development; and

· artificial intelligence applications in research, workplaces, higher education, and daily life.