Requires school districts to provide instruction on artificial intelligence; requires Secretary of Higher Education to develop artificial intelligence model curricula.

A4352

ASSEMBLY, No. 4352

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 19, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� SHANIQUE SPEIGHT

District 29 (Essex and Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires school districts to provide instruction on
artificial intelligence; requires Secretary of Higher Education to develop
artificial intelligence model curricula.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning artificial intelligence curricula,
certificates, and degree programs, and supplementing Title 18A of the New
Jersey Statutes.

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

���� 1.��� a.� As used in this
section, �artificial intelligence� means a machine-based system that can, for a
given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
decisions influencing real or virtual environments.

Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and
human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract
perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model
inference to formulate options for information or action.

���� b.��� Each school district
shall incorporate instruction on artificial intelligence in an appropriate
place in the curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part
of the district�s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards
in
Computer Science and Design Thinking
.

���� c.���� The instruction shall
include, at a minimum, information on:

���� (1)�� general concepts of
artificial intelligence;

���� (2)�� foundational skills
required to become artificial intelligence users; and

���� (3)�� best
practices to ensure the responsible, appropriate, and ethical use of artificial
intelligence.

���� d.��� The Commissioner of
Education shall provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning
activities and resources designed to implement the requirement established
pursuant to subsection b. of this section.

���� 2.��� a.� Each public
institution of higher education shall offer certificate and degree programs in
artificial intelligence.

���� b.��� The Secretary of Higher
Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner
of Labor and Workforce Development, the Economic Development Authority, the New
Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey Presidents� Council, and the
Chief Innovation Officer for the State
, shall
develop an artificial intelligence model curriculum for use
by public four-year institutions of higher education in the State and an
artificial intelligence model curriculum for use by county colleges in the
State.� The model curricula developed pursuant to this subsection shall be made
available to assist public four-year institutions of higher education and county
colleges in implementing the certificate and degree programs requirement
established pursuant to subsection a. of this section.�

���� c.���� The artificial
intelligence model curricula developed pursuant to subsection b. of this
section shall account for academic quality and other applicable standards
required for accreditation of artificial intelligence-related degree programs.�
The model curricula shall, at a minimum:

���� (1)�� provide a comprehensive
sequence of courses that will ensure adequate preparation for further
postsecondary education or a career in the field of artificial intelligence;

���� (2)�� include a list of
courses that would be suitable for artificial intelligence-related degree
programs;�

���� (3)�� detail any requirements,
other than coursework, that may be part of artificial intelligence-related
degree programs; and

���� (4)�� detail overall expected
student outcomes for artificial intelligence-related degree programs as well as
expected student outcomes for individual artificial intelligence courses.

���� d.��� As part of the
development of the artificial intelligence model curricula required pursuant to
subsection b. of this section,
the Department of Labor
and Workforce Development and the Economic Development Authority, in
consultation with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey
Presidents� Council and the
Chief Innovation Officer
for the State
, shall develop and distribute to public institutions of
higher education artificial intelligence career pathway marketing materials
that provide descriptions of artificial intelligence careers and the benefits
of pursuing those careers.

���� e.���� As used in this
section, �artificial intelligence� means a machine-based system that can, for a
given set of human-defined objectives, make predictions, recommendations, or
decisions influencing real or virtual environments.

Artificial intelligence systems use machine- and
human-based inputs to perceive real and virtual environments; abstract
perceptions into models through analysis in an automated manner; and use model
inference to formulate options for information or action.

���� 3.��� Section 1 of this act
shall take effect immediately and shall first apply in the first full school
year following the date of enactment.� Section 2 of this act shall take
effective immediately and shall first apply in the first full academic year
following the date of enactment.�

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires instruction
on artificial intelligence.� Under the bill, school districts are required to incorporate
instruction on artificial intelligence in an appropriate place in the
curriculum of students in grades kindergarten through 12 as part of the
district�s implementation of the New Jersey Student Learning Standards in
Computer Science and Design Thinking.� The bill also requires the Commissioner
of Education to provide school districts with age-appropriate sample learning
activities and resources designed to implement the artificial intelligence
curriculum requirement.

���� Additionally, the bill
requires each public institution of higher education to offer certificate and
degree programs in artificial intelligence.� The bill requires the Secretary of
Higher Education, in consultation with the Commissioner of Education, the Commissioner
of Labor and Workforce Development, the Economic Development Authority, the New
Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey Presidents� Council, and the
Chief Innovation Officer for the State
, to develop
an artificial intelligence model curriculum for use by public four-year
institutions of higher education in the State and an artificial intelligence
model curriculum for use by county colleges in the State.� The model curricula
developed is to be made available to assist public four-year institutions of
higher education and county colleges in implementing the certificate and degree
programs requirement established in the bill.�

���� Under the bill, the artificial
intelligence model curricula is to account for academic quality and other
applicable standards required for accreditation of artificial
intelligence-related degree programs.� Additionally, the Department of Labor
and Workforce Development and the Economic Development Authority, in
consultation with the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, the New Jersey
Presidents� Council and the
Chief Innovation Officer
for the State
, is required to develop and distribute to public
institutions of higher education artificial intelligence career pathway
marketing materials that provide descriptions of artificial intelligence
careers and the benefits of pursuing those careers.