U.S. House H.R.8747 "K-12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act of 2026" — making AI education an allowable use of federal funds
A House bill amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) to make using AI in a "safe, effective, and responsible" way — for student instruction and teacher/staff professional development — an allowable use of federal Title IV funds, supporting K-12 AI literacy.
Bill overview (primary data)
- Bill numberH.R. 8747
- TypeHouse Bill
- Congress119th Congress
- Latest actionOrdered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 18 - 15.（2026-07-21）
Key points
- Amends ESEA Title IV to make AI use an allowable use of federal education funds
- Covers both student AI-literacy instruction and professional development for teachers and staff
- Limits it to "safe, effective, and responsible" AI use (per the 2020 National AI Initiative Act definition)
- Mainly clarifies/expands allowable uses rather than creating a large new appropriation
- Introduced by Rep. Fine (R-FL), May 12, 2026; referred to Education and Workforce
- The same amendment enters four permitted uses across state and local, students and educators, extending existing grants to AI.
1AI literacy in K-12
H.R.8747, the "K-12 AI Literacy and Readiness Act of 2026," was introduced by Rep. Randy Fine (R-FL-6) on May 12, 2026, and referred to the House Education and Workforce Committee.
2Amending the Elementary and Secondary Education Act
The bill amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), Title IV (Student Support and Academic Enrichment), to add AI as an allowable use of funds.
Specifically, it adds — for state-level student instruction, state-level teacher/school-leader uses, local-level student instruction, and local-level teacher/school-leader uses — using AI (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 9401) in a "safe, effective, and responsible" manner, and giving teachers, paraprofessionals, librarians and media personnel, specialized instructional support personnel, and administrators the knowledge and skills to use and teach AI safely, effectively, and responsibly (including through professional development).
3Directing existing grants to AI education
In short, it lets existing federal education funds be used for K-12 AI literacy and teacher AI training; the focus is clarifying and expanding allowable uses, not creating a large new appropriation.
4The same amendment inserted in four places
The bill adds AI to the permitted uses of an existing federal education grant. The insertion point is not one but four, split between state and local and between students and educators.
| Permitted use added | Content |
|---|---|
| State level, for student instruction | Instruction using AI in a safe, effective and responsible manner |
| State level, for teachers and school leaders | Building the knowledge and skills to deliver it, including professional development |
| Local level, for student instruction | The same, at the local implementing level |
| Local level, for teachers and school leaders | The same, at the local implementing level |
The amendment targets provisions under Title IV, Student Support and Academic Enrichment, of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, with AI as defined in the 2020 National AI Initiative Act. It creates no large new appropriation; clarifying and extending the uses of existing grants is the point, and including teacher training in what may be funded is what marks it.
Why it matters
Shows the U.S. positioning AI literacy in public K-12 education and extending support to teacher training. A useful tailwind reference for providers of education-focused AI tools and curricula.
FAQ
Does it add new funding?
Which grades?
Sources (primary)
Source: Congress.gov (Library of Congress; U.S. legislative materials, public domain). Links go to the official site.
- Congress.gov (bill page, original)
- H.R. 8747（119th Congress）