S. 3063: LIFE with AI Act
Sponsor
Bill Cassidy
Republican · LA
Bill Progress
Latest Action · Oct 28, 2025
Read twice and Referred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. for review
Schools would need your OK before AI scans your kid's photo
Why it matters
S. 3063 would require schools to get parental consent before using student photos to train facial recognition, give families a 5-minute opt-out from data sharing, and post ed-tech contracts publicly two weeks before a school signs them. Companies that mishandle student data could land on a public non-compliance list for five years.
The Learning Innovation and Family Empowerment with AI Act — the LIFE with AI Act — rewrites the federal student-privacy rulebook for an era when classroom software and AI tutors collect data on almost everything a kid does.
It works by tying conditions to federal education funding. To keep that funding, schools would have to give parents a plain opt-out form that takes under 5 minutes, get consent before using student photos to train facial recognition, and post any contract that shares student data publicly for two weeks before signing it.
It also widens FERPA's definition of an 'education record' to clearly include academic, attendance, health, and discipline data held by a school or its vendors. Companies that mishandle that data could land on a public, machine-readable list for five years.
On the carrot side, the bill creates a 'Golden Seal of Excellence in Student Data Privacy' for schools with clean records and strong consent systems, an optional safe-harbor program for ed-tech vendors, and a federal push to build AI teaching guides and fund education-AI research.
S. 3063 Bill Summary
What S. 3063 actually does.
Parental consent before facial recognition touches student photos
Schools would lose federal funding unless they bar the use of student photographs to train facial recognition systems, including AI, without first getting parental consent.
A 5-minute opt-out from data sharing
Schools that release directory information would have to post a plain, year-round opt-out form that takes the average adult no more than 5 minutes to complete and works on phones, tablets, and computers.
Ed-tech contracts go public before schools sign
Any contract that hands student records or personal data to a third party would have to be posted publicly for at least 2 weeks before a school signs it.
A public list of non-compliant data companies
The Education Department would build a machine-readable public list of vendors found to mishandle student data. A company stays listed for 5 years unless it fixes the violation.
Yearbook companies can't sell student data
Schools would be barred from doing business with yearbook vendors that sell data collected while making the yearbook, or that use facial recognition without disclosure and consent.
A 'Golden Seal' for privacy-strong schools
Schools with a clean FERPA record over the prior 5 years and real-time consent technology in place for at least a year could earn a 'Golden Seal of Excellence in Student Data Privacy,' good for 5 years.
AI training for teachers and a research push
The Education Department would build AI teaching guides for K-12 teachers and prioritize education-AI projects in its small-business research grants, including tools for students with special needs.
Who benefits from S. 3063?
Parents of K-12 students
Get a notify-and-consent step before schools use their child's photo for facial recognition or share records with a vendor, plus a 5-minute opt-out they can fill out year-round from a phone.
K-12 students
Their academic, attendance, health, and discipline data gets a wider FERPA definition and tighter limits on how outside companies can use it.
Privacy-focused schools
Schools with strong consent systems can earn the Golden Seal as a public mark of distinction, awarded through participating state education agencies.
Teachers
Get federal AI training guides covering personalized learning, copyright issues, and how to spot improper student use of AI.
Who is affected by S. 3063?
K-12 schools and districts
Would have to post a 5-minute opt-out form, publish ed-tech contracts two weeks before signing, and stop funding vendors that fail the new data rules — or risk losing federal funds.
Ed-tech companies
Face public contract posting, a possible 5-year spot on a non-compliance list, and an optional safe-harbor program that, if joined, becomes an affirmative defense against alleged violations.
Yearbook and photo vendors
Cannot sell data gathered during yearbook production or use facial recognition on student photos without disclosure and consent if they want school business.
The Education Department
Would stand up a Privacy Technical Assistance Center within 6 months, design the Golden Seal, build the public non-compliance list, and write model privacy agreements.
S3063 Legislative Journey
Committee Action
Oct 28, 2025
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
About the Sponsor
Bill Cassidy
Republican, LA · 17 years in Congress
Committees: Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Veterans' Affairs, Finance
View full profile →
Committee Sponsors
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee
0 of 23 committee members cosponsored
No committee members have cosponsored this bill
12 Republicans across this committee haven't cosponsored yet. Mobilize their constituents
What laws does S. 3063 change?
2 changes
Sections Amended
Section 444 of General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g; commonly referred to as the ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974'')
adding at the end the following: ``(k) Facial Recognition Technology
Section 444(a) of General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g(a)(4)(A); commonly referred to as the ``Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974'')
read as follows: ``(4)(A) For purposes of this section, the term `education records' means, except as may be provided otherwise in subparagraph (B), any data or materials which-- ``(i) contain information related to a student, including data related to academic performance, attendance, health, and discipline; and ``(ii) are maintained by an educational agency or institution or by an entity acting for or in coordination with such agency or institution
S. 3063 Quick Facts
- Committee
- Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Chamber
- Senate
- Policy
- Education
- Introduced
- Oct 28, 2025
Read twice and Referred to Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. for review
Oct 28, 2025
Official Sources
The official bill page with full text, status, and sponsor for the LIFE with AI Act.
The bill amends FERPA (20 U.S.C. 1232g), the federal law this page explains and the Education Department administers.
The exact U.S. Code section the bill rewrites to redefine an 'education record' and add facial-recognition and contract rules.
Explains the directory-information opt-out the bill would simplify into a 5-minute, year-round form.
The bill directs the Secretary to stand up a privacy technical assistance center; PTAC already exists here as the model.
The bill's new technical assistance center would also help schools comply with PPRA (20 U.S.C. 1232h), FERPA's companion privacy law.
The bill directs this Education Department program to prioritize education-AI and personalized-learning research grants.
The committee, chaired by sponsor Sen. Bill Cassidy, that received the bill and will decide whether it advances.
Who is lobbying on S. 3063?
1 organization lobbying on this bill
MCGRAW-HILL EDUCATION | 2 |
Showing 1-1 of 1 organizations
S. 3063 Common Questions
Can a school use my child's photo for facial recognition without my permission?
Under S. 3063, no. Schools would lose federal funding unless they bar the use of student photos to train facial recognition systems, including AI, without prior parental consent.
How do I opt my kid out of school directory information?
S. 3063 would require schools to post a plain opt-out form that takes the average adult under 5 minutes to complete. It has to be available online year-round and work on phones, tablets, and computers.
Would schools have to make ed-tech contracts public before signing?
Yes. Under S. 3063, any contract that shares student records or personal data with a third party would have to be posted publicly for at least 2 weeks before the school signs it.
What happens to ed-tech companies that mishandle student data?
The Education Department would add them to a public, machine-readable list of non-compliant vendors. A company stays listed for 5 years unless it fixes the violation, and it can appeal the listing.
Does S. 3063 ban yearbook companies from selling student data?
Yes. Schools would be barred from doing business with yearbook vendors that sell data collected while making the yearbook, or that use facial recognition without disclosing it and getting consent.
What is the Golden Seal of Excellence in Student Data Privacy?
It's a 5-year certification for schools with no FERPA violations in the prior 5 years that have run real-time parental consent technology for at least one academic year. State education agencies award it, and it can be renewed.
What counts as an education record under S. 3063?
The bill widens FERPA's definition to cover data on a student's academic performance, attendance, health, and discipline that is held by a school or by a company acting on the school's behalf.
What AI training would teachers get under S. 3063?
The Education Department would build AI teaching guides for K-12 teachers covering personalized learning, copyright piracy, and how to handle improper student use of AI, all while protecting student data.
Based on S. 3063 bill text
S. 3063 Bill Text
“To improve student privacy, parental choice, and personalized learning innovation in education.”
Source: U.S. Government Publishing Office
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