New Artificial Intelligence Developments for Illinois Schools: ISBE Releases Statewide Guidance and Governor Pritzker Signs SB 2909

July brought two notable developments regarding the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) in Illinois schools. On July 9, 2026, the Illinois State Board of Education (“ISBE”) released comprehensive guidance addressing the use of AI in teaching, learning, and school operations in accordance with Senate Bill 1920 (Public Act 104-0399). The following day, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2909 (Public Act 104-0565), establishing new requirements governing the use of AI in teacher evaluations. Together, the guidance and legislation provide additional direction to school districts as they evaluate the role of AI in the educational setting.

ISBE Releases Statewide Guidance on AI in K-12 Education

Pursuant to Public Act 104-0399, ISBE released statewide guidance on the use of AI in elementary and secondary education to assist school districts and educators in evaluating the opportunities, risks, and practical considerations associated with the use of AI. Developed with input from experts in education, technology, and public policy, the guidance emphasizes that AI should support, rather than replace, educator expertise and professional judgment. Although the guidance does not create binding mandates for school districts or educators, it provides resources and recommendations intended to inform local decision-making regarding AI implementation.

The guidance is organized around four core tenets:

1. 1. Teaching and learning are shaped by human relationships and by the experiences, interests, and assets each child brings into school.
   2. Schools serve academic, developmental, and civic purposes concurrently.
   3. AI is a means to inform teaching and learning rather than an end in itself.
   4. Informed use requires deliberate, context-sensitive, and locally determined purpose and use.

Consistent with these principles, ISBE emphasizes that AI should enhance student learning and support, rather than replace, educators’ work.

The guidance addresses a broad range of issues school districts may encounter as AI becomes increasingly integrated into educational settings. In addition to providing an overview of core AI concepts, including machine learning, natural language processing, generative AI, and agentic AI, the document discusses instructional uses of AI, district readiness and innovation, policy development and governance, AI literacy and digital citizenship, equity and accessibility considerations, and implementation planning.

With respect to teaching and learning, ISBE encourages educators to evaluate AI through a framework that compares existing instructional practices with potential AI-supported approaches. The guidance discusses how AI may be used to support lesson planning, instructional delivery, assessment development, and other educator-directed functions, while emphasizing that AI should not replace educators’ role in exercising professional judgment, adapting instruction to students’ individual needs, and building the meaningful relationships that support student growth and learning. The guidance also emphasizes a “trust but verify” approach to AI-generated content and encourages developmentally appropriate implementation, providing examples and considerations for different grade bands.

The guidance devotes significant attention to district readiness, governance, and accountability. ISBE encourages districts to engage educators, students, families, and community members in developing a shared understanding of the purpose and appropriate use of AI before implementation. The document discusses considerations related to governance structures, professional learning, technical readiness, funding, vendor and data-management practices, and ongoing oversight of AI tools. Consistent with Public Act 104-0399, the guidance addresses issues including privacy and data security, transparency, bias mitigation, accessibility, and Internet threat and risk management that districts should consider when evaluating AI technologies.

In addition, ISBE emphasizes the importance of AI literacy and digital citizenship. The guidance encourages districts to help students develop an age-appropriate understanding of how AI systems function, their benefits and limitations, and the ethical considerations associated with their use. The guidance also addresses equity and accessibility considerations, emphasizing that AI implementation should promote student opportunity while minimizing unintended disparities.

To assist districts with implementation, the guidance includes practical examples, planning tools, policy considerations, and a comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions (“FAQ”) section addressing common questions from educators and school leaders. ISBE indicated that it plans to release additional guidance, supplemental resources, and no-cost professional learning opportunities regarding AI during the 2026-2027 school year.

Governor Pritzker Signs Senate Bill 2909 Regulating AI Use in Teacher Evaluations

In a related development, Governor Pritzker signed Senate Bill 2909 (Public Act 104-0565) on July 10, 2026. Effective January 1, 2027, the legislation amends Section 24A-5 of the Illinois School Code and establishes new limitations on the use of AI in teacher evaluations.

The new law prohibits evaluators from using AI tools to assign a numerical score or qualitative rating, such as “excellent,” “proficient,” “needs improvement,” or “unsatisfactory” for any component of a teacher evaluation or any evaluation task requiring professional judgment. The law similarly prohibits teachers from using AI tools to generate evidence of professional practice for evaluation purposes. The legislation does, however, permit teachers and evaluators to use AI tools for administrative tasks related to evaluations, as long as the individual using the AI tool discloses the name and purpose of the tool. The amendment also requires the joint committee responsible for developing a district’s teacher evaluation plan to determine how AI may be used in evaluations, consistent with the requirements of Public Act 104-0565.

Looking Ahead

School districts should carefully review both ISBE’s guidance and Public Act 104-0565 as they evaluate current and future uses of AI. Districts may wish to assess existing technology practices, acceptable-use policies, professional development programs, data privacy procedures, and teacher evaluation processes to ensure compliance with the new law and alignment with ISBE’s recommendations.

If you have questions regarding ISBE’s AI guidance, Public Act 104-0565, or AI use in educational settings generally, please contact a Franczek attorney.