Maryland School Districts Must Implement K-12 AI Policies This Month

Maryland's SB 720, passed in the 2026 legislative session and effective June 1, 2026, requires school districts to establish policies governing classroom AI use. After the Maryland State Department of Education issued guidance, schools must implement policies within 120 days, with most districts expected to comply this month. The law also created the Maryland AI Education Collaborative on AI in K-12 Education, whose first report is not due until December 1, 2027.

This is a concrete case of state legislation driving district-level AI governance, directly affecting the compliance conditions for schools to procure and use AI tools and setting a policy threshold for education AI products entering Maryland districts. The collaborative's report is not due until late 2027, leaving a long gap before policy evaluation and adjustment; the original text provides no details on individual district policies or implementation outcomes. Districts must complete AI policy compliance this month, affecting procurement and use conditions for classroom AI tools. Education AI products entering Maryland districts must match state guidance and local policy requirements, raising compliance costs.