Massachusetts is moving toward requiring high school students to complete a module on artificial intelligence and digital literacy as part of a career-planning framework, but the proposed standard remains advisory and any full implementation is years away.
Governor Maura Healey’s K-12 Statewide Graduation Council filed its final report on June 17, 2026, recommending four components for high school graduation: MassCore college-preparatory coursework, state-designed end-of-course assessments, a My Career and Academic Plan (MyCAP), and a culminating capstone or portfolio. All students would complete an AI and digital literacy learning module as a required MyCAP milestone.
The module would cover generative and predictive AI, ethical and responsible use of AI tools, critical thinking, safety and security, data protection, the role of algorithms, identifying credible sources, and navigating intellectual property and copyright laws, according to a report from GovTech and Tribune Content Agency.
AI literacy as a MyCAP milestone
The AI and digital literacy requirement is embedded within the MyCAP framework rather than as a standalone course. Districts may offer it through a virtual module developed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a locally delivered standalone course, or within an existing course, as reported by the Beacon Hill Times.
Other required MyCAP milestones include financial literacy, work-based learning experiences, and completion of the FAFSA or the Massachusetts Alternative Student Financial Aid Application, though families may opt out of the financial aid forms, according to State House News Service.
Slow path to implementation
The Council’s report is advisory. The Legislature must pass a bill to authorize new graduation standards before any implementation begins. The Board of Elementary and Secondary Education would then write regulations. According to NBC Boston, the earliest proposed rollout is the 2027-28 school year for the MassCore requirement, with other components phased in later. Full implementation would not occur until the graduating class of 2032.
The recommendation for end-of-course assessments drew opposition from the Massachusetts Teachers Association, which led the 2024 ballot campaign that repealed the MCAS graduation test. The union said the assessment proposal defies the will of the voters, as reported by WBUR.
Similar bills in other states
At least four other state legislatures are considering or have introduced bills that would require AI literacy instruction for high school graduation, though Massachusetts’ approach of embedding it within a career-planning framework is distinct.
Hawaii’s SB2212 would require all public school students in grades 11 and 12 to complete a minimum six-week AI literacy course as a graduation condition starting in 2027-28, covering fundamentals, machine learning, generative AI, and ethical use, according to the Hawaii State Legislature.
Iowa’s SF2094 would require one semester of computer science and artificial intelligence for students in the graduating class of 2030-31. Instruction would cover what AI is, how it works, design, societal impact, and ethical considerations. The bill also requires teacher preparation programs to include AI training, according to the Iowa Legislature.
Florida’s SB1194 would direct the State Board of Education to adopt statewide AI use standards and require instruction on digital literacy and AI ethics for specified grade levels, along with student code of conduct policies. Arizona’s HB4005 would require instruction on ethical, moral, and educational uses of AI for students in grades 3, 6, 8, 10, and 12 beginning in 2027-28, as reported by the Arizona State Legislature.
All four bills are pending as of mid-2026. Massachusetts’ proposal, if adopted, would join a small but growing group of states that tie AI literacy to graduation, though the state’s emphasis on integrating the requirement into a personalized career and academic plan rather than a standalone course sets it apart.