Florida approves new AI restrictions for public schools and colleges

The Florida Board of Education has unanimously approved new regulations to restrict the use of artificial intelligence in public K-12 schools and state colleges. The rules, which are set to be implemented by July 2027, aim to protect student privacy, maintain academic integrity, and ensure human oversight.

Key provisions include a prohibition on using AI to simulate emotional relationships, friendship, or companionship with students. The policy also bans the use of AI for graded assignments and evaluations unless specifically authorized by an instructor. Furthermore, the regulations prohibit the use of AI for undisclosed behavioral monitoring or the creation of psychological profiles of students.

A central component of the new framework is parental control. Schools must notify parents about the use of AI tools, and parents must provide explicit consent for their children to use them. If parents opt out, schools are required to provide alternative teaching methods that do not involve AI.

These measures follow similar restrictions implemented by major school districts in Los Angeles and New York. Education officials stated the goal is to avoid both a total ban and unrestricted access, ensuring AI serves as a supervised educational tool rather than a replacement for human interaction or critical thinking.