Texas 2036 calls for AI guardrails in schools

Texas 2036 says artificial intelligence in K-12 classrooms can help or harm students depending on how schools govern it, who controls it and how tools are designed. The group is pressing Texas lawmakers to set statewide guidance, protect student data and train teachers as AI use spreads faster than school policies.

Why it matters: - AI is already showing up in Texas classrooms faster than school systems have clear rules for it. - Texas 2036 says the stakes are student safety, data privacy, learning quality and whether teachers keep control of instruction. - The report argues that AI should support, not replace, strong teaching and independent student learning.

What happened: - Texas 2036 released In Ctrl of AI in Schools on Tuesday. - The report says AI can help or harm students depending on human decisions, tool design and governance. - The release comes as Texas lawmakers begin filing legislation for the 2027 session. - Texas 2036 says the report is meant to inform state policy and help schools stay ahead of AI developments.

The details: - A fall 2025 survey by the University of Texas at Austin and the Texas Association of School Administrators found 86% of Texas school and district leaders said teachers were using AI. - The same survey found 61% reported student AI use. - Only 29% of respondents said their district had a policy governing student AI use. - Just 20% said their district had a policy for teachers and staff. - The report says research on AI and learning is mixed, with some studies showing gains, others showing harms and many showing both. - Texas has passed three AI-related laws in 2025 that created a foundation for responsible governance, including requirements affecting public school districts. - Texas 2036 says those broad standards have not yet been turned into consistent classroom guidance. - The report says 42 states have issued some form of statewide AI guidance or model policies for schools. - Texas is one of eight states that have not. - Texas 2036 identifies four priorities for lawmakers: statewide guidance, student safety standards, teacher training and age-appropriate AI literacy for students. - The report says AI tools should meet standards for data privacy, security and educational effectiveness before reaching classrooms. - The report says educators need training and resources to recognize AI risks, understand limitations and make classroom decisions. - The report says students should learn critical thinking, responsible AI use and independent learning skills.

Between the lines: - The report does not call for putting AI in every classroom or banning it outright. - The central message is that policy should be built around teacher judgment, not around technology for its own sake. - Texas 2036 is framing AI as a governance problem as much as a technology problem. - Public opinion appears to support that approach: nearly 85% of Texas voters said protecting student data and privacy is extremely or very important if schools use AI. - More than three-quarters of voters said safety and quality standards for AI tools are a priority. - Seventy-one percent said teaching students to use AI responsibly and ethically is important. - Renzo Soto, the report author and Texas 2036 deputy director of education and workforce policy, said the early research shows AI is neither simply good nor bad and that school leaders and teachers must stay in control. - Mary Lynn Pruneda, Texas 2036 director of education and workforce policy, said safety and effectiveness should come first.

What's next: - Texas 2036 says this report is the first in a series on AI in K-12 education. - A second report will examine policies, guidance and resources from other states. - The goal is to help Texas build a statewide model policy that prioritizes student safety and learning. - Texas lawmakers are expected to use the report as they shape AI-related legislation for the 2027 session. - Texas 2036 also points readers to its legislative agenda and voter poll for more context.More information