HARRISBURG –The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom and how schools are adapting programs to prepare students for changing workforce demands were the topics of a public hearing Monday held by the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Sen. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-27), and the Senate Communications and Technology Committee, chaired by Sen. Tracy Pennycuick (R-24).
The joint panel heard from educators as well as workforce development and policy experts who discussed the need to embrace the technology responsibly, in a manner that retains student critical thinking, ensures ethical and safe use, and prepares students to fill in-demand jobs.
“AI isn’t new, but it has really taken off recently and will not be going away,” said Culver. “We want to know how schools are preparing students to use AI, what students need to learn to prosper in the modern workforce, and, most importantly, what they need to know to keep them safe when using AI.”
“We are already seeing AI transform industries, reshape workplaces and redefine the skills needed to succeed. For our commonwealth to remain competitive, we must ensure that our students, workers and institutions are equipped to adapt and thrive,” said Pennycuick. “As legislators, it is our responsibility to craft policies that position Pennsylvania as a leader in the AI economy so that this powerful technology strengthens, not leaves behind, the next generation of Pennsylvanians.”
Estimates show up to 60% of jobs will be affected by AI in the next decade, said Lauren Holubec, executive director of the Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association. It’s already a driver of how work is organized, how people learn and how employers compete. The coming impact won’t be limited to high-tech roles but will reach nearly every sector. Among other steps, Pennsylvania will need to retrain displaced workers, she testified.
On the education side, Dr. Katie Kennedy-Reilly, director of K-12 curriculum, instruction, assessment and technology at Souderton Area School District, said AI should support, not steer, education. She said her district is integrating AI into curriculum, incorporating ethics and preserving critical thinking.
Last year, the Berks Career and Technology Center developed a plan for including AI-enhanced applications for staff and student-facing AI tools for use by teachers in the classroom. Executive director Michael Stauffer said AI should be a partner in learning, not a replacement. He urged state lawmakers not to overregulate the use of AI in education.
PennWest University, a State System of Higher Education school with 10,500 undergraduate and graduate students, has initiated conversations with businesses, chambers of commerce, health care providers, manufacturers, nonprofits and other universities to collaborate on AI programs. Dr. Camille Dempsey, associate professor and director of the Center for Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technologies, said all graduates should be safe, responsible and skillful users of AI and related technologies.
Penn State University Executive Vice President and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos told the panel more than 80% of students report already using AI in their coursework and no student will be prepared for a future workforce if they are not AI-literate. The goal at Penn State is that by fall 2027 every student will have opportunities to reach that level.
La Roche University offers a comprehensive, ethical and practical framework that prepares students for an AI-enhanced future while strengthening the essential human elements of education. Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Faculty Gregor Thuswaldner said the school’s strategy includes curriculum integration, a micro-certification program, campus-wide technology access, strategic partnerships and innovation.
Luzerne County Community College Professor Mark Choman demonstrated how he uses Microsoft Copilot to plan lessons, organize his work and create analogies that help students understand concepts. Like several testifiers, he said students need critical thinking along with technical expertise.
As for state oversight of AI in schools, Adrienne Fischer and Heena Kuwayama of the Education Commission of the States testified that the number of states with agency AI guidance is in flux, but they’ve identified at least 29 states with published guidance. The common themes include the importance of a human-centered approach, ethical and responsible uses of AI, issues related to access, the need for AI literacy, and data privacy.
“This discussion underscored the rapid pace at which artificial intelligence is transforming education and the workforce,” Pennycuick said. “Pennsylvania has an opportunity to ensure that our students, workers and institutions are prepared for these changes. That means aligning education with workforce needs, promoting innovation and putting in place commonsense guardrails.”
“Pennsylvania needs to stay on the front lines of AI, prioritizing student safety and preparedness,” said Culver. “At the same time, we must support our school districts and our institutions of higher learning as we navigate this new technology.”
Hearing video and written testimony can be found on the Senate Communications and Technology Committee and Senate Education Committee websites.
CONTACTS: Matt Szuchyt (Sen. Pennycuick)
Sam Clepper (Sen. Culver)