Canyons School District must adopt a formal artificial intelligence policy by July 1, 2027, under a new state law governing how AI is used in Utah classrooms.

House Bill 273, signed March 18, requires every Utah school district and charter school to put AI and classroom technology rules in place. The law passed the Utah House 68-1, St. George News reported. Districts that miss the deadline could lose state technology-related funding.

Matthew Winters, artificial intelligence specialist with the Utah State Board of Education, said the policy framework has three layers: a district-level policy, a classroom-level policy and a disclosure to parents whenever AI is used in an assignment. The law also prohibits educators from using generative AI for independent grading or high-stakes student decisions, according to legislative tracker Linewize.

"Safety should be table stakes when we talk about AI," Winters told KUTV. "We want to make sure that the tools that are provided to students are safe and secure."

Before any school can deploy an AI tool, the district and the technology company must sign a data privacy agreement. Parents also have access to an online resource where they can review which applications are available to their children.

The state board's model policy is due Dec. 1. Districts can adopt that model or write their own, as long as they meet HB 273's requirements.

HB 273 also sets screen-time limits for younger students. Grades K-3 face a near-total ban on classroom screens, with exceptions for computer science standards and test preparation. Grades 4-6 must balance technology with teacher-led, print-based and hands-on instruction.

Canyons District has already started preparing. Teachers began AI training in summer 2026, and lead AI specialist Emma Moss has guided staff through exercises like AI-generated lessons, KSL reported.

Students want a seat at the table. Kennedy Mickelson, a senior at Hillcrest High School in Sandy, told KUTV that students are often asked for their opinions only after decisions have already been made.

"Students can tell you what will actually help in a classroom and what is likely to be valuable in the future and what won't be," Mickelson said.

That push echoes a statewide effort. In September, Skyline High senior Rahul Nair pitched a student-led AI task force to the state board's Standards and Assessments Committee. The committee voted to advance the proposal, and the full board is scheduled to hear it in October. Winters said Utah is believed to be the first state to consider such an idea.

"It not only allows the State Board of Education to create proactive policies rather than reactive policies, but also allows us to bridge the gap between decision makers and students like myself," Nair told KUER in September.