AI in Schools / State report
Pennsylvania state policy and Philadelphia AI tools
The August 23, 2026 tracker listed Pennsylvania without a statewide classroom-AI rule. Philadelphia names district-approved AI products.
Published
Research as of · Sources & Notes
No statewide rule in the August snapshot
New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and DC: State snapshot and local rules
In the August snapshot, these four were in the no-statewide-rule category. Yet New York City requires AI tools to pass review before use with student data, Philadelphia names district-approved products, Houston conditions older students' access on written parent consent and task-specific teacher permission, and DCPS prescribes approved-tool and staff-use safeguards. Students and families must identify their own district, rather than borrow a neighboring district's permission. Educators and leaders should make the local tool list and use conditions accessible. Washington and Massachusetts, by contrast, sit in the tracker guidance category, demonstrating why 'state guidance' and 'local rule' need separate fields. [7][8][42][34][14]
Philadelphia names its approved AI tools
Philadelphia's district notice identifies Google Gemini and Adobe Express with Firefly as vetted products and says nonapproved AI tools for district work violate the acceptable-use policy. A Masterman school handbook separately describes a teacher-discretion continuum from no AI to AI-supported work, referencing district guidance. Families should not generalize a particular school's assignment continuum to all district classrooms; teachers should state the allowed level of assistance; leaders should maintain a coherent district list and explain school-level variation. [42][41]
Does district tool approval settle every assignment?
Chicago and Philadelphia set their own AI tool approvals
Chicago combines catalog approval with teacher permission. Philadelphia names approved products and preserves school-level assignment variation.
Chicago and Philadelphia set their own AI tool approvals. Chicago combines catalog approval with teacher permission. Philadelphia names approved products and preserves school-level assignment variation. Chicago. Product approval: Age-appropriate tools vetted in the EdTech Catalog. Assignment scope: Teacher permission still applies. Suspected misuse calls for investigation. Evidence state: district scope. Philadelphia. Product approval: The notice names Google Gemini and Adobe Express with Firefly. Assignment scope: A Masterman handbook describes teacher discretion. Its continuum does not apply automatically to every district classroom. Evidence state: district scope.
| Jurisdiction or item | Product approval | Assignment scope |
|---|---|---|
ChicagoDistrict scopeSource notesSource notes [4] | Age-appropriate tools vetted in the EdTech Catalog. | Teacher permission still applies. Suspected misuse calls for investigation. |
| PhiladelphiaDistrict scope | The notice names Google Gemini and Adobe Express with Firefly. | A Masterman handbook describes teacher discretion. Its continuum does not apply automatically to every district classroom. |
View data and source notes
| Item | Product approval | Assignment scope | Status | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | Age-appropriate tools vetted in the EdTech Catalog. | Teacher permission still applies. Suspected misuse calls for investigation. | district_scope | [4] |
| Philadelphia | The notice names Google Gemini and Adobe Express with Firefly. | A Masterman handbook describes teacher discretion. Its continuum does not apply automatically to every district classroom. | district_scope | [42][41] |
Sources & Notes
This report reflects research as of October 6, 2026. Reference numbers link to the cited publications.
The August tracker counts describe its historical snapshot. The reviewed policy database has a separate scope and release date. Neither is a census of classroom AI use.
Limits and source differences
- The state counts and 82 district policies describe the August 23, 2026 tracker. They do not replace the current 24-record research release. [7]
- AI Guidance for Students | Chicago Public Schoolswww.cps.edu
- Classroom AI by State and District | Formative Spaceswww.formativespaces.com
- Guidance on Artificial Intelligencewww.schools.nyc.gov
- Student and Staff Technology and Network Acceptable Use Policydcps.dc.gov
- A I G u i d e b o o khoustonisd.org
- 2025-2026 Community Handbook (Version 1.3)masterman.philasd.org
- AI Resources – PSTVwww.philasd.org
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