Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 2876 on 29 September 2024, making California one of the first states to embed AI literacy into its formal curriculum framework process. The law requires the Instructional Quality Commission (IQC) to incorporate AI literacy content when revising the mathematics, science, and history-social science curriculum frameworks — the first revision cycle after 1 January 2025 — and to include AI literacy criteria when evaluating and adopting instructional materials.
AI literacy is defined in the statute as the knowledge, skills, and attitudes associated with how artificial intelligence works — its principles, concepts, and applications — as well as how to use AI, including its limitations, implications, and ethical considerations.
The California Department of Education’s Public Schools AI Working Group (established under SB 1288, 2024) held its final scheduled meeting on 23 February 2026 and is expected to deliver a comprehensive model policy for local school districts by 1 July 2026.
Once the IQC-revised frameworks are formally adopted, districts across California will be expected to use state-aligned instructional materials that include AI literacy content. The 2025-26 school year was cited as the initial implementation window.
Who it affects: All K-12 students across California through the statewide curriculum framework adoption process. Instructional materials publishers must incorporate AI literacy to achieve state approval.
What is notably missing: AB 2876 creates an obligation on the IQC to incorporate AI literacy into frameworks at the next revision, not a direct mandate for schools to teach a specific AI literacy course or unit. No standalone AI literacy graduation requirement exists. The CDE Workgroup model policy (due July 2026) will be advisory, not binding, on districts. No dedicated funding for AI literacy instruction is attached to the law. Teacher training in AI is not mandated by this legislation.