AI Rec 11 PSE Adoption

States should work with their postsecondary institutions and systems to develop an AI adoption playbook that will help all colleges, universities and other postsecondary institutions integrate AI responsibly, productively and efficiently.

The United States

Investopedia reports that as of 2025, the U.S. is by far the biggest investor in AI, both in the private and government sectors. Private investment totaled $471 billion from 2013 through 2024. Between 2019 and 2023, the U.S. government – mostly through the Department of Defense – invested an estimated $328 billion in AI, which is much more than any other country.Los Angeles Unified School District – AI & Data Ethics Playbook (Draft 2023)

Much of this investment is predicated on continuing research, development and education needed to realize AI’s full potential. Hesitation to adopt and integrate AI in postsecondary education may slow down and even hinder progress. By doing so, we risk allowing other nations, who are investing heavily in postsecondary education and AI research and development to gain a technological advantage going forward.

Proposed Response

In the U.S., our decentralized education governance puts states in the driver’s seat. As a result, postsecondary education in each state will need state-driven strategies that focus on responsible AI development and robust governance frameworks. To accomplish this, SREB believes there are two strong options.

Option 1

SREB states could collaborate to share best practices, resources and research to develop a more cohesive and efficient approach to AI adaption. A regional network could amplify the strengths of individual states while addressing common challenges, such as workforce development, ethical AI use, and accessibility. By fostering collaboration across state lines, the initiative could create a unified framework that leverages regional expertise and resources, ensuring that all institutions benefit from a shared vision for AI integration. This approach would also allow for greater alignment with regional or national frameworks, further strengthening the policy’s impact.

Option 2

States should consider creating a state postsecondary AI lead. Once appointed, the state AI leads should move to convene statewide postsecondary AI council – much like Mississippi’s Artificial Intelligence Network. See the SREB AI Commission’s first recommendation for greater detail on statewide networks.

These convenings should include the state’s AI lead and postsecondary representatives from each institution and system. Make sure that faculty and students are present and engaged at the convenings. The convenings should utilize working groups that explore several key topics such as:

• Professional training and support for staff and students
• Responsible Student AI Use
• Responsible Faculty AI Use
• AI and teaching
• AI and learning
• AI, Assessment, and Grading
• AI and Mental health
• AI and Accessibility
• Measuring AI’s Impact and Outcomes
• Risk Management and Mitigation
• AI Procurement
• Workforce Needs and AI
• Any related state laws or executive orders

SREB recommends that states publicly share the findings of the convening for feedback. Once gathered, the findings and feedback should be used to help develop the statewide AI playbook. States can publish drafts of the playbook for further feedback and incorporate appropriately after review and consideration.

Create a publication deadline and stick to it, knowing that further revisions are inevitable. 

The playbook should include expected milestones and timelines as well as requirements for institutions to submit their work and campus plans according to the deadlines set forth in the playbook.

Following the publication of the playbook, the state will create and adopt a responsible AI standard aligned to regional or national frameworks. The state’s higher education agency will then publish minimum controls, risk tiers and review cycles. Contracts involving AI shall include data protection, transparency, bias testing, accessibility, human oversight and incident reporting requirements. The agency may award grants and enter into partnerships to build capacity. The institutions will submit AI implementation plans, impact assessments for high‑risk uses, and annual reports.

Implementation Considerations

States can start with pilots to figure out what works before trying to scale statewide. State funding could be paired with technical assistance to increase success rate of the program. States should also require shared governance and student voices at every stage. SREB recommends that states default to open standards and portability to reduce lock‑in. Publish development artifacts openly so smaller campuses can reuse and keep ethics and accessibility non‑negotiable. Measure outcomes and iterate annually.

State, Local and National Examples of Policy Playbooks

All the following playbook examples share common elements.

• Step-by-step frameworks (Assess, Plan, Act, Monitor).
• Sample policy language for easy adoption.
• Checklists and templates for procurement, compliance, or implementation.
• Case studies to ground recommendations in practice.

Examples of Policy Playbooks

Colorado AI Policy Playbook

• Developed by the Colorado Office of Information Technology.
• Provides guidance for state agencies on the ethical use of AI, including procurement checklists, risk-assessment models, and implementation frameworks.
• Organized into phases: Assess, Plan, Implement, Monitor.
• Emphasizes transparency and alignment with NIST AI Risk Management Framework.

North Carolina School Connectivity Playbook

• Created to help districts expand broadband access.
• Includes decision trees, funding strategies, vendor negotiation checklists, and case studies.
• Structured for local flexibility but aligned with state infrastructure investments.

Los Angeles Unified School District – AI & Data Ethics Playbook (Draft 2023)

• Offers district guidance for responsible adoption of AI tools.
• Sections on student data privacy, vendor vetting, professional development, and instructional safeguards.
• Designed to evolve alongside state and federal regulation.

References

The 2025 AI Index Report (2025). Stanford University, Human Centered Artificial Intelligence (Stanford HAI). https://hai.stanford.edu/ai-index/2025-ai-index-report

California Department of Technology. (2022). California local jurisdiction permitting playbook [PDF]. Broadband for All. https://broadbandforall.cdt.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/09/California-Local-Jurisdiction-Permitting-Playbook-1.pdf

Government Technology. (2023). Digital identity 101: A playbook for state and local government [White paper]. https://papers.govtech.com/Digital-Identity-101-A-Playbook-for-State-and-Local-Government-142056.html

Ho, Esther (2006). Educational decentralization in three Asian societies: Japan, Korea and Hong Kong. Journal of Educational Administration, Volume 44(6). https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235270905_Educational_decentralization_in_three_Asian_societies_Japan_Korea_and_Hong_Kong

Which Countries Are Investing Most in AI? Liberto, D. (2025). Investopedia. https://www.investopedia.com/countries-investing-the-most-in-ai-11752340#:~:text=Report%2C%20Stanford%20University-,China,23