New AI Literacy Framework: a common reference for integrating AI literacy in education

On 18 June, the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) unveiled the AI Literacy (AILit) Framework for primary and secondary education, providing a common reference to help schools integrate AI literacy into teaching.

Developed with international experts (including CodeAI), the framework is accompanied by practical classroom examples to support educators in turning AI literacy into meaningful learning experiences. It was launched in Brussels during the European Digital Education Hub flagship event, Collaborate for Impact: Advancing European Digital Education and Skills.

AI literacy

AI literacy supports informed decision-making about the opportunities and risks that AI presents to individuals, community and society. This is not just about using AI tools, but also about understanding how AI works and critically evaluating its role in everyday life.

Key challenges include:

Lack of a shared definition of AI literacy
Inconsistent implementation across education systems
Misconceptions about AI
Limited understanding of effective AI-supported pedagogies

Addressing these barriers can help learners use AI more creatively, ethically, and effectively.

The framework provides a common foundation for AI literacy while encouraging adaptation to different educational contexts and needs.

The AILit Framework

Who is the Framework for?

Teachers: offers insights on how AI can help students learn and on how teachers can integrate AI literacy in school curriculum
Education leaders: gives guidance to develop AI literacy initiatives in their schools or organisations
Policymakers: serves as practical, research-backed advice to guide policy making
Learning designers: explains how to include AI literacy in the development of educational content and teacher training materials

The framework is structured around four dimensions that describe how learners engage with, create with, manage and shape AI; nineteen competences organised around knowledge, skills, and attitudes, and practical sections including learner expectations, learning scenarios, and classroom examples that support implementation in schools.

European digital education goals

The Framework supports the European Union’s ambition to deliver high-quality, inclusive and future-oriented digital education and contributes to the objectives of the Digital Education Action Plan and the Union of Skills by helping learners develop the competences needed for a rapidly evolving digital and AI-driven society.

The upcoming Education Package, planned for later this year, will provide further support for adapting education systems to the digital and AI transformation and promoting equal access to digital education for all.

The AI Literacy Framework also complements several European initiative and policy priorities:

Together, these resources provide a shared foundation for empowering the next generation to understand, use and shape artificial intelligence with confidence, responsibility and purpose.