The governance standard for AI interaction with K-8 students.
A Fulcra Institute initiative.
A Coalition Built for the Field
The Student AI Learning Compact is a set of adoptable standards governing how any AI system — adaptive learning platforms, dialogue tools, grading engines, content recommenders, writing assistants — may interact with or affect students in K-8 learning environments.
SALC does not replace COPPA, FERPA, or SDPC. It extends them into the governance territory those frameworks do not reach. It is free for districts and schools to adopt. It is publicly available. It is convened by the Fulcra Institute as independent field infrastructure — not owned by any vendor, not tied to any product.
Since 2026, SALC has provided districts, schools, and platforms with a shared framework for responsible AI deployment — the same compact, adopted consistently across the sector.
The Gap SALC Fills
Existing frameworks — COPPA, FERPA, SDPC — govern student data and records. They do not govern what happens in the space between a child and an AI: the dialogue, the disclosure, the cognitive and emotional interaction that occurs when a student engages with a system designed to respond to them as an individual.
SALC fills that gap. It is the field's first coalition standard for AI interaction with K-8 students — covering legal compliance, content guardrails, interaction boundaries, safety and escalation, session structure, transparency, and equity across four grade bands: K-1, 2-4, 5-6, and 7-8.
How SALC Works
Districts and Schools Adopt
Free adoption. Designate a SALC Compliance Lead. Require SALC compliance documentation in AI procurement. Receive the SALC Adopter designation and Procurement Toolkit.
Adopt SALC →Platforms Certify
EdTech platforms and AI tool providers submit to standards review across all seven SALC domains. Receive SALC Platform Compliant designation. Listed in the verified platform registry.
Get Certified →The Field Has a Standard
Districts know which platforms meet the standard. Platforms have a clear compliance target. Families can ask whether their child's school has adopted SALC.
Join the Coalition
District Adopters
School districts, charter organizations, and regional education agencies.
Platform Signatories
EdTech platforms and AI tool providers deploying AI in K-8 contexts.
School and Site Adopters
Individual schools and independent learning programs.
Research and Advocacy Partners
Universities, think tanks, policy organizations, advocacy groups.
Become a Partner →Coalition Members
| Organization | Type | Location | Signatory Tier | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CLEAR — Center for Leadership Equity and Research | 501(c)(3) | California | Tier 4 — Research & Advocacy | Founding Partner |
Founded on Published Research
SALC was developed by the Fulcra Institute in direct response to the findings of WP-002, "The Governance Gap" (2026) — a working paper documenting the structural absence of AI governance architecture in institutional deployments and the specific urgency of K-8 learning environments.
The Fulcra Institute’s Working Paper WP-002, “The Governance Gap” (2026).
The Fulcra Institute. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.19041214
The Standard in Practice
SALC is not a theoretical framework. It is designed to be implemented — by platforms building AI tools for K-8 students, and by districts procuring them. The SALC Procurement Toolkit gives district administrators everything they need to evaluate vendors, assess their own readiness, and initiate adoption.
Access the Procurement Toolkit →