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Enacted laws

Education · PA 104-0399

Public Education AI Guidelines

Public Education AI Guidelines Act

In force
Public Act
PA 104-0399
Effective
January 1, 2026
Enforced by
Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE)
Verified

Directs the Illinois State Board of Education to issue guidance on AI use in public schools and requires curriculum that teaches students to recognize deepfakes and AI-generated content.

The education-AI package took a lighter touch than Illinois’ employment or healthcare statutes, and deliberately so. Rather than prohibit tools, PA 104-0399 builds capacity: it puts ISBE in charge of guidance and puts deepfake-literacy into the curriculum. The theory is that the durable protection for students is not a ban on any particular product but the ability to recognize synthetic content when they encounter it.

For districts the compliance question is mostly procedural — align local AI-use policy with ISBE guidance as it arrives, and fold recognition of AI-generated content into instruction. ISBE’s draft curriculum guidance is expected through 2026, which is the document districts should be watching.

What it requires

  • ISBE must issue guidance on the use of AI in public schools.
  • Districts must adopt curriculum that teaches students to recognize deepfakes and AI-generated content.
  • District AI-use policies should track ISBE guidance as it is published.

Who is covered

Illinois public school districts and the Illinois State Board of Education. Vendors of classroom AI and curriculum are affected indirectly through district policy.

What the exposure is

Regulatory — ISBE oversight

No direct monetary penalty. Compliance runs through ISBE guidance, the standard school-accountability framework, and curriculum-mandate review.

Key dates

  • August 2025 Signed by Gov. Pritzker as PA 104-0399
  • January 1, 2026 Took effect

If this applies to you

  • Adopt or adapt curriculum that teaches students to recognize deepfakes and AI-generated content.
  • Align district and institutional AI-use policies with ISBE guidance as it is published.
  • Train educators on responsible AI use in classroom settings.
  • Document a school-level policy on which AI tools are permitted for student work.

Related

Primary sources 1

  1. Public Act Public Act 104-0399 — Full Text (PDF) Illinois General Assembly · ilga.gov · retrieved

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