Students representing all 50 states developed the “STUDENTS FIRST Act of 2026,” a national framework for responsible AI use in K-12 education, at America’s Youth AI Festival held on the UMass Boston and MIT campuses in July. The student-authored proposal passed by an 82-16 vote and would prohibit AI from generating students’ written or artistic work while permitting supplementary use beginning in ninth grade with teacher approval. The framework emphasizes protecting authentic learning and creativity while preserving human judgment in consequential decisions such as grading and discipline.
