Establishes the Artificial Intelligence Literacy Act which establishes an artificial intelligence literacy in the digital equity competitive grant program.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6874--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 18, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. TORRES -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Education -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted
as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to establishing an arti-
ficial intelligence literacy digital equity competitive grant program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
2 the "Artificial Intelligence Literacy Act".
3 § 2. Legislative findings. The legislature, as well as the United
4 States congress, finds that:
5 (1) Artificial intelligence is transformative technology.
6 (2) Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly ubiquitous making
7 artificial intelligence literacy important.
8 (3) Technological leadership in artificial intelligence is an economic
9 and national security imperative.
10 (4) Effective artificial intelligence literacy initiatives encompass
11 not only technical training but also comprehensive education about the
12 potential benefits and risks.
13 (5) Informed developers and consumers of artificial intelligence tech-
14 nologies can help mitigate risks and biases often found in systems that
15 use artificial intelligence.
16 (6) Basic artificial intelligence literacy is critical to ensuring
17 Americans have the tools and knowledge needed to navigate the economy
18 and digital world.
19 (7) Successful artificial intelligence literacy initiatives will
20 prepare Americans of all ages and technical backgrounds to safely navi-
21 gate artificial intelligence tools and artificial intelligence-enabled
22 technologies.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08797-03-5
A. 6874--A 2
1 (8) Communities most negatively impacted by artificial intelligence-
2 enabled technologies often have the least access to artificial intelli-
3 gence education.
4 (9) Artificial intelligence literacy initiatives must engage stake-
5 holders and communities in all stages and specific outreach efforts
6 should be made for communities disproportionately impacted by the
7 digital divide, including minority and rural communities.
8 (10) Jobs for the Future survey found 58% believe that learning oppor-
9 tunities around artificial intelligence should be offered to workers,
10 53% believe such opportunities should be available to learners, 54%
11 believe they would feel more prepared for the future impact of artifi-
12 cial intelligence if they were given learning tools for it.
13 (11) As of 2018, the U.S. artificial intelligence workforce stood at
14 about 14,000,000 workers or 9% of employment. Demand for artificial
15 intelligence occupations is projected to grow twice as fast as for all
16 occupations in the U.S.
17 (12) In 2021, black students made up only 7.5% of artificial intelli-
18 gence-related bachelor's degrees despite making up 14% of the popu-
19 lation. Women account for 60% of college graduates and only 40% of STEM
20 graduates and 25% of artificial intelligence graduates.
21 (13) The need for a strong workforce of artificial intelligence work-
22 ers, as well an artificial intelligence-literate population, requires
23 investment in artificial intelligence literacy education.
24 (14) Artificial intelligence literacy must also encompass ethical and
25 responsible use of emerging technologies. Preparing students from an
26 early age to critically engage with artificial intelligence is essential
27 for cultivating a digitally literate, civically informed, and work-
28 force-ready society.
29 (15) Public investment in early-stage artificial intelligence educa-
30 tion will expand access to opportunity, foster equity, and ensure New
31 York remains at the forefront of technological leadership.
32 § 3. The education law is amended by adding a new section 115 to read
33 as follows:
34 § 115. Artificial intelligence literacy in the digital equity compet-
35 itive grant program. 1. Definitions. As used in this section, the
36 following terms shall mean:
37 a. "Artificial intelligence system" or "AI system" means a machine-
38 based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the
39 input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content,
40 recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual
41 environments. AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy and adaptive-
42 ness after deployment.
43 b. "Artificial intelligence literacy" means the skills associated with
44 the ability to comprehend the basic principles, concepts, and applica-
45 tions of artificial intelligence, as well as the implications, limita-
46 tions and ethical considerations associated with the use of artificial
47 intelligence.
48 c. "Community organization" means not-for-profit community organiza-
49 tions, other than a school, community college or institution of higher
50 education, which offer free educational programs to the general public.
51 d. "Artificial intelligence literacy grant program" or "program" means
52 the artificial intelligence literacy digital equity competitive grant
53 program established under subdivision two of this section.
54 e. "Academic institution" means any public elementary or secondary
55 school, community college, or institution of higher education authorized
56 to operate in the state of New York and recognized by the New York State
A. 6874--A 3
1 Education Department or the Board of Regents, which provides formal
2 instructional programs that culminate in a diploma, certificate, or
3 degree.
4 f. "Community college" means any institution of higher education with-
5 in the state university of New York or city university of New York
6 systems that is authorized to confer associate degrees and is defined as
7 a community college pursuant to article one hundred twenty-six of this
8 chapter.
9 g. "Institution of higher education" shall mean any postsecondary
10 educational institution within the state of New York that is authorized
11 by regents or the department to confer bachelor's, master's, doctoral,
12 or professional degrees and is not defined as a community college under
13 this section.
14 h. "Public elementary and secondary schools" shall include charter
15 schools authorized pursuant to article fifty-six of this chapter. For
16 the purposes of this section, charter schools shall be treated as public
17 schools to the extent they provide elementary or secondary education
18 consistent with their charter and meet the eligibility requirements set
19 forth by the commissioner.
20 2. Artificial intelligence literacy digital equity competitive grant
21 program. a. The commissioner shall establish an artificial intelligence
22 literacy digital equity competitive grant program which shall provide
23 grants to public elementary and secondary schools, community colleges,
24 institutions of higher education, and community organizations to support
25 artificial intelligence literacy efforts.
26 b. The program shall be structured as a competitive grant process. In
27 awarding grants, the commissioner shall prioritize applicants that
28 demonstrate both:
29 (i) high level of need, as determined by factors including, but not
30 limited to, lack of access to computer science education, a high
31 percentage of students or community members from low-income households,
32 limited technological infrastructure, or geographic barriers to digital
33 inclusion.
34 (ii) A strong and clearly articulated proposal, including specific
35 goals, strategies, and implementation plans for expanding access to
36 artificial intelligence literacy and addressing equity in digital educa-
37 tion.
38 c. All proposals submitted under this section shall include:
39 (i) A demonstration of need, including quantitative and qualitative
40 data describing the applicant's existing access to artificial intelli-
41 gence literacy resources and technological infrastructure.
42 (ii) Clearly defined and measurable objectives, including the antic-
43 ipated number of individuals reached if the grant is fully implemented,
44 and relevant success metrics.
45 (iii) A detailed plan outlining how the funds would be used if the
46 applicant is awarded the full amount requested.
47 d. The commissioner shall also establish criteria for the development
48 and submission of grant applications and proposals and for the selection
49 of recipients of grants from the program. Such criteria shall include
50 provisions to ensure geographic diversity, demographic equity, and
51 accountability in the use of grant funds.
52 e. To ensure equitable distribution of funding, the total amount
53 appropriated for the program shall be allocated as follows:
54 (i) Thirty percent to public elementary and secondary schools.
55 (ii) Twenty percent to community colleges.
56 (iii) Fifteen percent to public institutions of higher education.
A. 6874--A 4
1 (iv) Five percent to private institutions of higher education.
2 (v) Thirty percent to community organizations.
3 f. Such program shall provide grants to public elementary and second-
4 ary schools to be used for:
5 (i) providing teachers training and certification to support artifi-
6 cial intelligence literacy efforts in schools.
7 (ii) facilitating attendance of teachers at professional development
8 courses, workshops, and conferences related to artificial intelligence
9 education, including professional development related to artificial
10 intelligence course design and fee-based professional development.
11 (iii) for schools without resources for computer science education,
12 developing and designing best practices for computer science materials
13 needed for artificial intelligence education.
14 (iv) supporting partnerships with the private sector to facilitate
15 artificial intelligence education.
16 (v) equipping schools with labs to provide students hands-on artifi-
17 cial intelligence learning experiences.
18 (vi) developing virtual learning platforms that facilitate remote and
19 individualized artificial intelligence education opportunities.
20 (vii) developing programs that prepare students for further studies or
21 future careers in artificial intelligence or related fields.
22 (viii) providing foundational artificial intelligence literacy
23 instruction tailored to grade level.
24 g. provide grants to community colleges to be used for one or more of
25 the following:
26 (i) developing and implementing an interdisciplinary literacy program
27 with respect to artificial intelligence for non-traditional learners,
28 including through partnerships with non-profit educational organiza-
29 tions.
30 (ii) developing labs to provide students hands-on artificial intelli-
31 gence learning experiences.
32 (iii) developing virtual learning platforms that facilitate remote and
33 individualized artificial intelligence education opportunities.
34 h. provide grants to institutions of higher education to be used for:
35 (i) developing labs to provide students hands-on artificial intelli-
36 gence learning experiences.
37 (ii) developing virtual learning platforms that facilitate remote and
38 individualized artificial intelligence education opportunities.
39 (iii) developing programming and pedagogical tools with respect to
40 artificial intelligence education and instruction for the benefit of
41 elementary and secondary school teachers and community educators.
42 (iv) developing programs that prepare participants to use artificial
43 intelligence tools in the workplace, including sector-specific applica-
44 tions.
45 i. provide grants to community organizations to be used for one or
46 more of the following:
47 (i) providing training and certification with respect to artificial
48 intelligence education and instruction to employees of the community
49 organizations.
50 (ii) developing and implementing artificial intelligence learning
51 experiences and educational programming to the community served by the
52 community organizations.
53 (iii) offering programming to support adult learners and jobseekers in
54 understanding and applying artificial intelligence in the workforce,
55 particularly in high-growth or digitally transforming industries.
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1 j. require any entity which is awarded a grant under the program to
2 submit a report to the commissioner on or before July first of each year
3 for four years following the grant being awarded which shall include,
4 but not be limited to:
5 (i) the number of administrators and teachers trained or scheduled for
6 training.
7 (ii) the number of schools that have implemented this program across
8 the state.
9 (iii) the number of students reached, and at which grade level.
10 (iv) disaggregated data based on race, ethnicity, county, and school.
11 (v) prospective timeline to reach all schools.
12 (vi) the amount of the grant.
13 (vii) the use of grant amounts.
14 (viii) the progress of the entity towards fulfilling the objectives
15 for which the grant was awarded.
16 3. Metrics and evaluation. The department shall develop and implement
17 a standardized framework for evaluating the effectiveness of the artifi-
18 cial intelligence literacy grant program. Such framework shall include,
19 but not be limited to:
20 a. Measurement of student learning outcomes related to artificial
21 intelligence concepts, competencies, and digital fluency.
22 b. Participation rates in artificial intelligence literacy programs
23 disaggregated by grade level, demographic group, and institution type.
24 c. Evaluation of how and to what extent artificial intelligence liter-
25 acy content has been integrated into existing school curricula or commu-
26 nity programming.
27 d. Longitudinal tracking of participants' engagement with further
28 education or career pathways related to artificial intelligence and
29 technology fields.
30 4. Grant administration. a. The commissioner shall award grants under
31 the artificial intelligence literacy grant program and shall administer
32 the program in consultation with relevant offices within the department.
33 b. The department shall establish procedures for the application,
34 review, approval, distribution, and monitoring of grant awards, includ-
35 ing clear guidance on timelines, eligibility, documentation, and
36 disbursement.
37 c. The commissioner shall ensure that all grant funds are distributed
38 in a timely and transparent manner, with priority given to advancing
39 educational equity and digital access in underserved communities.
40 d. The department shall provide technical assistance to applicants and
41 grantees to support strong proposal development, compliance with program
42 requirements, and effective implementation.
43 e. The department shall have authority to conduct audits, inspections,
44 or program evaluations of grantees and may recapture or reallocate funds
45 not used in accordance with the terms of the grant.
46 f. All grantees shall comply with state reporting requirements and
47 participate in department-led evaluations as a condition of receiving
48 funding.
49 5. Reports. On or before January first next succeeding the effective
50 date of this section and each January first thereafter, the commissioner
51 shall submit a report to the governor, the temporary president of the
52 senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of the senate and
53 assembly education committees and higher education committees which
54 shall include, but not be limited to:
A. 6874--A 6
1 a. summarizing and analyzing the reports submitted to the commissioner
2 for that year and information on such reports required under paragraph j
3 of subdivision two of this section;
4 b. summarizing the metrics established under subdivision three of this
5 section; and
6 c. recommending improvements to the program.
7 6. Rules and regulations. The commissioner shall have the authority to
8 establish rules and regulations to implement the provisions of this
9 section.
10 § 4. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
11 law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any
12 rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its
13 effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such
14 effective date.
