Full Breakdown
Student-Led AI Policy Framework Aims to Shape K-12 Use of Generative Tools
8/8/2026, 8:24:50 PM
Core Event
During the America’s Youth AI Festival, July 17-19 in Boston, 98 high-school students from all 50 states drafted the “STUDENTS FIRST Act,” a national policy framework for AI use in K-12 schools. The draft will be circulated through the American Association of School Administrators’s (AASA) network of more than 10,000 school and district leaders, and the students plan to present it via webinars, workshops, and in-person visits.
Background & Context
Many districts lack AI guidelines. An EdWeek Research Center survey of 693 educators (Sept-Nov 2025) found most schools have no generative-AI policy or are uncertain about existing rules. At least seven states have enacted comprehensive AI policies, highlighting a fragmented regulatory landscape the student-driven framework seeks to address.
Key Figures & Groups
- Jeff Riley – Executive director, Day of AI.
- Marissa Donjuan – High-school senior from Colorado and student representative.
- Gyimah Whitaker – Superintendent, City Schools of Decatur, Georgia.
- Brandon Boswell – Science teacher, Cypress Bay High School, Florida.
Data & Statistics
- 98 students from all 50 states participated.
- AASA reaches >10,000 school and district leaders.
- The 2025 EdWeek survey included 693 educators, revealing gaps in AI policy awareness.
Official Statements & Responses
Jeff Riley called the student consensus “a profound statement” contrasting with adult uncertainty. Festival organizers said staff at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute assembled the draft from student input. Educators such as Brandon Boswell reported adopting provisions—e.g., oral examinations when AI detection occurs—into classroom rules. Marissa Donjuan expressed hope the act will serve as a “stepping stone” for districts.
Why It Matters
The framework places AI literacy at its core, codifies the right to opt out of AI tools, proposes annual policy reviews, and encourages parental involvement through literacy training and transparency. By foregrounding student voice, it aims to fill a gap where adult stakeholders often lack consensus.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No source provides a detailed funding plan for the recommended training and equipment, and district leaders are uncertain how to finance these initiatives. The framework offers fewer concrete provisions for parents, reflecting challenges in aligning school policy with home environments.
Verbatim Quotes
- “At a time when a lot of people are scared of [AI], and the kids sometimes know more about the technology than the adults do, and the adults have failed to reach any kind of consensus on this, it’s a profound statement that the kids were able to find some consensus,” — Jeff Riley
- “I definitely hope this [framework] is utilized,” — Marissa Donjuan
What’s Next
Students and educators intend to present the “STUDENTS FIRST Act” to school boards and districts in the coming weeks and months, using webinars, workshops, and in-person visits to promote adoption and gather feedback for future revisions.
