California Department of Education - AI Guidance for K-12

⚠️ Official State Guidance

This guidance represents the California Department of Education's recommendations for implementing artificial intelligence in K-12 schools. While not mandated by law, these guidelines align with California Education Code and state privacy regulations including the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and Student Online Personal Information Protection Act (SOPIPA).

Executive Summary

California leads the nation in preparing students for an AI-driven future while protecting their privacy, safety, and educational equity. With over 6.2 million K-12 students across 10,000+ schools, California's approach to AI in education must be thoughtful, inclusive, and grounded in our values of equity and excellence.

Core Principles for AI in California Schools

1. Equity First

AI implementation must reduce, not exacerbate, educational disparities. Special attention must be paid to:

English learners (1.2 million students in CA)
Students with disabilities
Socioeconomically disadvantaged students
Rural and underserved communities

Requirement: Districts must conduct equity impact assessments before adopting AI tools.

2. Privacy by Design

California's strong privacy laws require enhanced protections for student data:

Compliance with SOPIPA (AB 1584) mandatory
CCPA rights extend to students and parents
No sale or commercial use of student data
Right to deletion must be honored

Requirement: All AI vendors must sign CDE-approved data privacy agreements.

3. Transparency and Accountability

Districts must be transparent about AI use:

Public disclosure of all AI tools in use
Clear communication to parents in multiple languages
Regular audits of AI impact on student outcomes
Grievance procedures for AI-related concerns

4. Human-Centered Learning

AI enhances but does not replace human educators:

Teachers retain authority over grading and evaluation
AI recommendations require human review
Social-emotional learning remains human-led
Critical thinking skills prioritized over AI dependence

California-Specific Requirements

Area	California Requirement	Legal Basis	Compliance Deadline
Data Privacy	Signed agreements for all AI vendors	Ed Code 49073.1	Before use
Parent Notification	Written notice in home language	Ed Code 48985	30 days before
Equity Analysis	Impact assessment required	LCAP requirements	Annual
Teacher Training	Professional development on AI ethics	Ed Code 44277	Within 1 year
Student Rights	Opt-out option must be provided	CCPA/SOPIPA	Immediate
Accessibility	ADA/504 compliance for all AI tools	Federal/State law	Before use

🔍 Special Focus: Equity in AI Implementation

California's Commitment: No student should be disadvantaged by AI implementation.

Required Equity Measures:

Language Access: AI tools must support California's top 5 languages (English, Spanish, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Tagalog)
Digital Divide: Districts must provide devices and connectivity for AI access
Cultural Relevance: AI content must reflect California's diverse populations
Bias Monitoring: Regular audits for algorithmic bias required

Funding Available:

Learning Recovery Block Grant funds may be used for AI tools
Title I funds appropriate for equity-focused AI implementation
E-Rate can support connectivity for AI access

Implementation Timeline for California Schools

Recommended Phased Approach

Phase 1: Q1 2025

Foundation Setting

Form district AI task force
Conduct needs assessment
Review current tool usage
Begin stakeholder engagement

Phase 2: Q2 2025

Policy Development

Draft AI acceptable use policy
Conduct equity impact analysis
Negotiate vendor agreements
Develop parent communication plan

Phase 3: Q3 2025

Pilot Implementation

Launch pilot in selected schools
Begin teacher training programs
Collect baseline data
Establish monitoring systems

Phase 4: Q4 2025

Full Deployment

District-wide implementation
Ongoing professional development
Regular assessment and adjustment
Annual reporting to CDE

Grade-Level Recommendations

Elementary (TK-5)

Focus: Digital citizenship and AI awareness
Exposure: Limited, teacher-mediated AI interaction
Tools: Age-appropriate, COPPA-compliant only
Time: Maximum 30 minutes per week
Parent Involvement: Required consent and regular updates

Middle School (6-8)

Focus: AI literacy and ethical use
Exposure: Guided use with clear boundaries
Tools: Educational AI with safety features
Time: 1-2 hours per week integrated into curriculum
Skills: Source verification, bias recognition

High School (9-12)

Focus: College and career readiness with AI
Exposure: Advanced tools with proper attribution
Tools: Industry-standard AI platforms
Time: As appropriate for coursework
Skills: Prompt engineering, AI ethics, career applications

Professional Development Requirements

Approved AI Tools and Platforms

Role	Required Training Hours	Topics	Renewal
Teachers	6 hours initial	AI basics, classroom integration, ethics	Annual
Administrators	8 hours initial	Policy, privacy, equity, evaluation	Annual
IT Staff	12 hours initial	Security, data protection, integration	Bi-annual
Counselors	4 hours initial	AI career paths, college readiness	Annual

CDE-Vetted AI Resources

The following platforms have been reviewed for California compliance:

Khan Academy's Khanmigo - Approved for grades 6-12
Code.org AI Curriculum - Approved for all grades
Microsoft Reading Progress - Approved for K-8
Grammarly for Education - Approved for grades 9-12
Learning.com AI Platform - Approved for grades 3-12

Note: District-level vetting still required. This list updated quarterly.

Monitoring and Assessment

Annual Reporting to CDE

Districts over 5,000 students must submit annual AI implementation reports including:

List of all AI tools in use
Professional development completion rates
Equity impact assessment results
Privacy compliance attestation
Student outcome data

Submission Deadline: June 30 annually via CDE portal

Resources and Support

California AI in Education Resources

CDE AI Toolkit: www.cde.ca.gov/ai-toolkit
Sample Policies: www.cde.ca.gov/ai-policies
Professional Development: California Educators Together (CET)
Legal Guidance: California School Boards Association (CSBA)
Technical Support: K12 High Speed Network

Contact Information

CDE AI in Education Team
Email: ai@cde.ca.gov
Phone: (916) 319-0800
Office Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM PST

Regional Support Centers

Northern California: Sacramento County Office of Education
Bay Area: San Mateo County Office of Education
Central Valley: Fresno County Office of Education
Southern California: Los Angeles County Office of Education