{"id":8090,"date":"2026-01-14T11:32:53","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/nobles\/?p=8090"},"modified":"2026-01-14T11:32:53","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:32:53","slug":"nobles-bill-to-protect-students-from-harmful-uses-of-ai-in-public-schools-heard-in-committee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/senatedemocrats.wa.gov\/nobles\/2026\/01\/14\/nobles-bill-to-protect-students-from-harmful-uses-of-ai-in-public-schools-heard-in-committee\/","title":{"rendered":"Nobles bill to protect students from harmful uses of AI in public schools heard in committee"},"content":{"rendered":"

OLYMPIA \u2014 A bill\u00a0<\/span>addressing the use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated decision systems, and surveillance technologies in the state’s public schools<\/span>\u00a0was\u00a0heard\u00a0Wednesday in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Senate Bill 5956<\/span><\/b><\/a>, sponsored by Sen.\u00a0T\u2019wina\u00a0Nobles (D-Fircrest),\u00a0<\/span>establishes\u00a0statewide requirements and limitations on how these technologies may be used in K-12 public schools, including charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the bill, public schools would be prohibited from using certain automated systems for student discipline and safety decisions, including systems that generate predictive risk scores about individual students or rely on biometric surveillance technologies. The legislation also specifies that automated decision systems may not be the sole basis for disciplinary actions such as suspension, expulsion, or referrals to law enforcement.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

SB 5956 further limits the sharing of student data generated by these technologies with law enforcement agencies and requires that any use of automated systems include meaningful human review.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition, the bill directs the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction to update guidance related to the use of AI in educational settings and requires the Washington State School Directors\u2019 Association to develop a model policy to\u00a0assist\u00a0school districts with implementation.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTechnology should support student learning and safety without replacing human judgment or undermining student rights,\u201d Nobles said. \u201cThis bill sets clear guardrails to ensure these tools are used responsibly and appropriately in our schools.\u201d<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDiscipline disparities are real, and AI is not neutral \u2014 it can amplify harm by flagging vulnerable students without context. SB 5956 sets clear guardrails, ensuring discipline decisions are made through human-centered investigation, due process, and accountability,\u201d said Derick Harris, executive director of Black Education Strategy Roundtable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Follow\u00a0the bill’s progress\u00a0<\/span>here<\/span><\/b><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

OLYMPIA \u2014 A bill\u00a0addressing the use of artificial intelligence (AI), automated decision systems, and surveillance technologies in the state’s public schools\u00a0was\u00a0heard\u00a0Wednesday in the Senate Early Learning & K-12 Education Committee.\u00a0 Senate Bill 5956, sponsored by Sen.\u00a0T\u2019wina\u00a0Nobles (D-Fircrest),\u00a0establishes\u00a0statewide requirements and limitations on how these technologies may be used in K-12 public schools, including charter schools and state-tribal education compact schools.\u00a0 Under the bill, public schools would be prohibited from using certain automated systems for student discipline and safety decisions, including systems that generate predictive risk scores about individual students or rely on biometric surveillance technologies. The legislation also specifies that automated…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":7932,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"disable_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8090","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-release"],"yoast_head":"\nNobles bill to protect students from harmful uses of AI in public schools heard in committee - Sen. 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