Virginia SB 394 (AI-in-schools guidance, board policies, pilot)
Virginia SB 394 (2026) — AI Use and Safety in Instructional Settings; DOE Guidance and Education Pilot Program
Virginia · Va. Code 22.1-20.2:1 (new); SB 394 (2026)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 1, 2026
- Applies to
- The Virginia Department of Education and local school boards/divisions.
- Enforced by
- Virginia Department of Education (guidance and oversight); local school boards (policy adoption).
Virginia directed its Department of Education to study how AI is currently used in public-school instruction and publish guidance for safe, ethical, and equitable AI use in the classroom, addressing student data privacy, teacher training, transparency, and bias. Each local school board must adopt aligned policies. The law also creates an 'AIS Innovation in Education' pilot program, prioritizing high-poverty, rural, and under-resourced divisions, sunsetting July 1, 2030.
Who is protected: Public-school students and educators affected by AI use in instruction, with emphasis on under-resourced divisions.
Legal detail
SB 394 (2026) creates Va. Code 22.1-20.2:1, requiring the Department of Education to compile information on instructional AI use and publish guidance, requiring each school board to adopt aligned policies, and establishing the AIS Innovation in Education Pilot Program (expiring July 1, 2030).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | April 13, 2026 |
| Citation | Va. Code 22.1-20.2:1 (new); SB 394 (2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Topics | education AI · government use of AI |
| Bill text | Virginia LIS — SB 394 (2026): Artificial intelligence use and safety in instructional settings |
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Related education AI rules elsewhere
- Blanchester OH schools AI policy EDEC (Jun. 29, 2026) · In effect
- Portland Public Schools genAI pause (Jun. 23, 2026) · In effect
- CA AB 2148 no-AI school employees (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- FCPS formal generative AI restrictions — elementary ban, secondary authorization required · In effect
- NYC DOE Generative AI Moratorium (K-8, 2026-27) · In effect
- SF5231 · Expired
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