Ohio is making headlines as one of the first U.S. states to require every public K–12 school district to establish a formal policy on artificial intelligence. Under the newly passed state budget, schools must adopt AI use guidelines by July 1, 2026—marking a major shift from optional guidance to mandated governance.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce will draft a model policy by December 31, 2025, giving school districts a blueprint to follow or tailor as they see fit. Notably, the budget stops short of requiring schools to use AI—but it does require them to think about how to manage it.
Key Takeaways:
- Deadline: All K–12 districts must adopt AI policies by July 1, 2026
- Model Coming: Ohio DOE will release a sample policy by December 2025
- Not Mandatory to Use AI, but mandatory to regulate it
- Signals a mindset shift: from fear of plagiarism to AI integration
- Ohio joins states like Tennessee and California in leading AI education policy
With the rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT, the conversation has shifted from fear and academic dishonesty to opportunity and innovation. Districts such as Worthington already have policies in place, while others, like Columbus, are actively developing them.
As Columbus City Schools’ CIO Christopher Lockhart pointed out, flexibility will be key. “We don’t want to handcuff ourselves,” he said, referencing how quickly AI is evolving and embedding into broader technology ecosystems.
The AI momentum isn’t limited to K–12. This fall, Ohio State University will integrate AI learning into general education requirements for all students—part of a growing national push. In fact, over 200 CEOs recently urged states to make AI and computer science a graduation requirement.
Interestingly, while Ohio is opening the AI door, it’s also drawing boundaries—mandating schools adopt cellphone bans during instructional hours by January 1, 2026, with a few health and emergency exceptions.
AI isn’t going away. Ohio’s move reflects a future-focused approach, preparing students not just to use AI—but to understand and responsibly engage with it. As Lockhart put it, “We can’t put the genie back in the bottle.”