Education, Curriculum

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details about the content of the guidelines or the exact nature of the professional development program.

Tennessee AI Education Act

This bill requires Tennessee's local education agencies and charter schools to teach students about using and evaluating artificial intelligence tools responsibly starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

What This Bill Does

• Requires local education agencies (LEAs) and public charter schools to provide age-appropriate instruction on how to access, utilize, and critically evaluate various AI tools within their curriculum starting in the 2026-2027 school year.
• Directs the Tennessee Department of Education to issue guidance for implementing this requirement, including basic concepts, practical applications, responsible usage, accessing relevant tools, and developing critical thinking skills.
• Allows the department to provide a professional development program for educators in AI education if there is available funding.

Who It Names or Affects

• Local education agencies (LEAs) in Tennessee
• Public charter schools in Tennessee
• Students in Tennessee's public schools

Terms To Know

local education agency (LEA)

a school district or other local government body that is responsible for providing public education.

public charter school

an independent public school that operates under a contract with the state or local school board and has more freedom to choose its curriculum and teaching methods.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify how much funding will be available for teacher training programs.
• It is unclear what specific AI tools students will learn about, as this depends on the guidance from the Department of Education.

Official Summary Text

Abstract summarizes the bill.

Current Bill Text

HOUSE BILL 531
By Farmer

SENATE BILL 514
By Bailey

SB0514
002032
- 1 -

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49,
relative to artificial intelligence.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE:
SECTION 1. Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, Chapter 6, Part 10, is amended by
adding the following as a new section:
(a) Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, each LEA and public charter school
shall provide age-appropriate instruction to students on how to access, utilize, and
critically evaluate various artificial intelligence tools within the curriculum taught by the
educator. The instruction must be aligned with the guidance issued by the department
of education pursuant to subsection (b).
(b) The department of education shall issue guidance to LEAs and public charter
schools on how to implement subsection (a). The guidance must include, but is not
limited to, the following instructional components:
(1) Introducing basic artificial intelligence concepts;
(2) Demonstrating practical applications of artificial intelligence;
(3) Teaching responsible artificial intelligence usage;
(4) How to access relevant artificial intelligence tools; and
(5) Developing critical thinking skills to analyze artificial intelligence.
(c) Subject to available funding, the department of education shall provide a
professional development program in artificial intelligence education for educators.
SECTION 2. This act takes effect upon becoming a law, the public welfare requiring it.