Microsoft and teachers’ unions agree on enforceable AI rules for schools

Microsoft is working with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) on legally enforceable rules for artificial intelligence in schools. The agreement establishes the National AI Safety & Privacy Standard.

The standard says student and teacher data cannot be used to train or improve AI models. Collected data will not be monetized, sold, or repurposed. Schools will control how data is used, stored, and deleted.

The guardrails cover privacy and safety for students, educators, and parents, as well as transparency about AI use. Schools will receive information about collected data and its protections, while AI providers must communicate product changes and risks. The systems will remain under human oversight and are designed to block harmful actions and protect sensitive information.

The agreement follows the failure of federal legislation and localized measures, including a moratorium on AI use in New York City schools and a similar ban in the Los Angeles Unified School District. AFT President Randi Weingarten said the agreement protects students and families through enforceable provisions. Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith said the standard will be extended to every school district across the country. The AFT is also in talks with OpenAI and Anthropic about adopting it.