Ohio became the first state to require every public school district, community school, and STEM school to adopt a formal policy on artificial intelligence. The mandate, enacted through Ohio Revised Code Section 3301.24 as part of House Bill 96, was signed by Governor Mike DeWine on June 30, 2025, and took effect September 30, 2025. Districts must have an AI policy in place by July 1, 2026.
Statute sets a deadline but not a template
The law itself does not specify what the district policy must contain. It required the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW) to develop a model AI policy by December 31, 2025, which the department released that month. Districts may adopt the model policy as-is or write their own. Legal analysis from Weston Hurd LLP noted that the model policy highlights subjects for districts to consider but does not contain many specific procedures or standards.
The model policy covers several areas: AI literacy, ethical use, data privacy and security, procurement and evaluation of AI tools, acceptable use, academic integrity, stakeholder engagement, and implementation and review. On data privacy, it requires that any AI tool comply with existing laws including FERPA and state data protections, and that AI systems be vetted for encryption, access control, and need-based data use. On academic integrity, students must cite AI-assisted work and cannot represent AI-generated material as their own. The policy also states that only approved tools may be used and that no assignment can require a tool the district cannot provide.
The Ohio School Boards Association confirmed that districts are not required to adopt the ODEW model policy, and the statute leaves broad latitude for local boards to craft their own version.
From voluntary toolkit to legal requirement
The mandate builds on earlier voluntary efforts. In February 2024, InnovateOhio partnered with The AI Education Project (aiEDU) to launch an AI Toolkit for Ohio's K-12 school districts, providing resources for policy development. In November 2024, then-Lt. Governor Jon Husted convened the Ohio AI in Education Coalition, which recommended that districts form AI workgroups, establish local policies, and provide professional development. The 2025 statute converted those recommendations into a legal requirement for all districts, according to a summary from the State Support Team - Region 10.
What the model policy suggests for implementation
The model policy recommends that each district create an ongoing AI workgroup including educators from various grade levels and departments, special education staff, board members, students, and representatives from local businesses and postsecondary institutions. The workgroup would regularly review new research and guidance. The policy also requires that the design and implementation of AI keep people at the center, that AI be treated as a tool to support learning rather than a substitute for student effort or the educator's role, and that users critically analyze AI output and be transparent about its use.
With the July 2026 deadline approaching, Ohio's more than 600 districts must decide how to comply. Because the statute gives no content requirements, the resulting policies could vary widely from one district to the next.