Source: Mahomet Daily

Mahomet Daily reports on a suite of new education laws enacted in Illinois effective January 2026, explicitly addressing the role of artificial intelligence in schools. A standout provision amends the Public Community College Act to mandate that courses must be taught by human instructors, prohibiting institutions from using AI or generative AI programs as the sole source of instruction. This legislative move aims to preserve the integrity of the teaching profession while allowing faculty to utilize AI as a supportive tool. Additionally, the Illinois State Board of Education is now required to provide comprehensive guidance to K-12 districts on the ethical use of AI, including protocols to protect student data privacy.

The new laws also intersect with broader civil rights, prohibiting schools from collecting information on students' immigration status, a measure seen as a safeguard against federal enforcement actions. Supporters argue these regulations are essential to counter potential "mendacious actions" created by AI and to ensure that technology serves to enhance, rather than replace, the human element in education. The legislation reflects a growing trend of state-level intervention to establish guardrails around the deployment of AI in public institutions.