Illinois Educators Release AI Roadmap

Teach Plus Illinois and the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance released “From ‘Rules and Tools’ to Schools,” a report offering guidance for responsible AI use in classrooms across Illinois. The report follows a 2024 assessment and builds on Senate Bill 1920, which directs the Illinois State Board of Education to create statewide AI guidance this summer. A recent survey revealed that 58 percent of Illinois educators currently use AI for lesson planning, with almost half tailoring instruction using the technology.

Teachers recognize potential benefits for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, but emphasize the need to preserve human connection in teaching. Access to professional development on AI remains uneven, with roughly 25 percent of educators reporting no training at all. The report recommends ISBE provide concrete examples of appropriate AI use and establish a framework for vetting AI tools based on equity and student privacy.

The organizations hope Illinois can become a national leader in human-centered AI implementation, though consistent access to training and equitable tool selection remain challenges. Policy leaders will continue to work with educators to adapt guidance as the technology evolves.