This is one of the biggest conversations happening in California education right now — and most educators haven’t heard about it yet.
California’s AB 1159 would prohibit the use of student data to train artificial intelligence models.  It’s part of a national wave of legislation, but California is leading the charge — and it has real implications for every tool you’re using in your classroom right now.
Think about it: when your students use an AI-powered platform to write essays, get tutored, or take assessments — where does that data go? Who benefits from it?
Research shows 90% of faculty believe AI will decrease students’ critical thinking abilities  — and that’s before we even get to the question of whether those same students are unknowingly helping build the AI systems of tomorrow.
Here’s what educators need to be asking:
🔍 What AI tools is my school or district currently using?
📋 Do those vendors have clear data use policies?
🧒 Is student data being used to train commercial AI models?
⚖️ What rights do students (and parents) have?
California schools vary widely in their approaches to AI tools, and experts are urging caution, noting that risks currently outweigh benefits  for many implementations.
This isn’t about being anti-AI. It’s about being informed, intentional educators who advocate for their students.
💬 What’s your school’s policy on AI and student data? Do you even know if one exists? Drop your thoughts below — this conversation needs more educator voices. 👇