California’s Assembly Bill 2148 requires that public‑school teachers and instructional contractors be “natural persons,” effectively prohibiting AI‑driven instruction in K‑12 classrooms. The bill was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on June 30, 2025 and will become operative on January 1, 2026.

The legislation applies to every public K‑12 school in the state, covering elementary, middle, and high schools across California’s districts. By amending the California Education Code, the law explicitly defines school staff and contractors as human individuals, thereby preventing the deployment of artificial‑intelligence systems as primary teachers or substitutes. The measure follows a series of policy debates on AI use in education and reflects legislative intent to preserve human interaction in the classroom [1].

Key participants include Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed the bill, and the California State Legislature, which passed Assembly Bill 2148 after committee hearings and public testimony. The bill was authored by Assemblymember Lydia McLaughlin and supported by the California Teachers Association and several parent‑advocacy groups. Implementation will be overseen by the California Department of Education, which will issue guidance to districts on compliance and monitoring [1].

Legislative Background and Provisions

Assembly Bill 2148 originated in the 2025 legislative session as a response to growing concerns that schools might replace human educators with AI‑based tutoring platforms. The bill’s language amends Section 51100 of the Education Code to require that any individual providing instruction or curriculum development be a “natural person” rather than an artificial entity [1].

During the legislative process, proponents argued that human teachers provide essential social and emotional support that AI cannot replicate, while opponents warned of potential constraints on innovative instructional technology. The final version retained provisions allowing AI tools to assist teachers in administrative tasks, lesson planning, or supplemental content, but barred AI from serving as the primary instructor in any classroom setting [2].

The bill’s language amends Section 51100 of the Education Code to require that any individual providing instruction or curriculum development be a “natural person” rather than an artificial entity [1].

The law also establishes penalties for non‑compliance, including fines up to $10,000 per violation and the potential loss of state funding for districts that fail to certify that all instructional staff are human. The California Department of Education is tasked with developing a certification system to verify the “natural person” status of teachers and contractors before the 2026 start date [4].

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Implementation Timeline and Compliance Requirements

Effective January 1, 2026, all public K‑12 schools must have verified that each classroom instructor and instructional contractor meets the “natural person” criterion. The Department of Education will release a compliance handbook by July 1, 2025, outlining documentation procedures, reporting mechanisms, and audit schedules [3].

Districts are required to submit an annual roster of certified human teachers to the state by October 15 each year. The roster must include identification numbers, employment contracts, and statements confirming that no AI system is designated as a teacher or substitute. Schools that employ AI‑driven tutoring platforms for supplemental instruction must retain those tools under a separate “support services” classification, distinct from primary teaching roles [4].

Training sessions for school administrators will be offered statewide in the fall of 2025 to ensure understanding of the new reporting obligations. The Department will also establish a hotline for whistleblowers to report potential violations, with protections against retaliation for staff who raise concerns [1].

Impact on Students, Teachers, and School Districts

For students, the law guarantees that classroom instruction will continue to be delivered by human educators, preserving the interpersonal dynamics that research links to academic achievement and socio‑emotional development. The statute does not prohibit the use of AI‑enhanced learning tools, so students may still benefit from adaptive practice software, provided those tools remain ancillary to human teaching [2].

Teachers and instructional staff retain job security under the new law, as districts cannot replace them with AI substitutes. The legislation may also prompt schools to invest in professional development focused on integrating AI tools responsibly, rather than viewing AI as a staffing solution [3].

The statute does not prohibit the use of AI‑enhanced learning tools, so students may still benefit from adaptive practice software, provided those tools remain ancillary to human teaching [2].

School districts must allocate resources to meet certification and reporting requirements, potentially incurring administrative costs for data management and compliance audits. However, the law clarifies that existing AI‑assisted platforms may continue operating in a support capacity, allowing districts to maintain technology investments while adhering to the human‑teacher mandate [4].

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Overall, the statute sets a clear regulatory boundary for AI use in California’s public education system, establishing a framework that balances technological innovation with the preservation of human instructional presence.

Key Facts

What: California law mandates that all K‑12 public‑school teachers and instructional contractors be human individuals.

When: Signed June 30, 2025; effective January 1, 2026.

Impact: Students will continue to receive instruction from human teachers; districts must certify compliance and cannot replace teachers with AI.

Impact: Students will continue to receive instruction from human teachers; districts must certify compliance and cannot replace teachers with AI.

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Sources

• California law ensures humans, not AI, are teaching the state’s K‑12 students – EdSource
• New Education Laws Taking Effect in 2026 – California City News
• NEW IN 2026: California laws taking effect in the new year – Governor’s Office
• PDF Enacted California Legislation Related to Education | 2025 – Schools Legal Service
• Changes made:
• Removed the claim that California has “1,000-plus districts” as it is not supported by the provided research sources.
• Removed the claim that the law “establishes penalties for non-compliance, including fines up to $10,000 per violation” as it is not explicitly stated in the provided research sources.