Leadership •
BY Erin Werra
School Districts Are Writing Thoughtful AI Policies. What Does that Look Like?
BY Erin Werra
Erin Werra
As school districts adapt to the new landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including generative AI, district administrators are asked to provide guidance. How do leaders achieve a safe and secure AI strategy?
Zoom out to see the AI landscape
Districts might start by reminding their staff, students, and stakeholders in the community that AI isn’t actually new and is largely unavoidable in many tech platforms. The reality outside of debates and opinions is that students must learn about AI, including opportunities to use it safely and appropriately under the guidance of an expert coach.Once district leaders can envision successful uses for AI in education, the steps to make it a reality become easier to define.
AI policies for K12 schools need to be:
- Structured to meet existing policies about acceptable use
- Aligned with district goals
- Supported by training and transparent communication
- Tested with a pilot group
- Improved upon continuously
AI for all is no free-for-all in IT
While the world goes all-in on AI, educators must enact policy and training before people in K12 join in. This structure keeps student data safe from prying eyes.School IT teams may partner with a cross-functional team of educators and staff to determine the opportunities and obstacles to implementing AI solutions. As the team explores, existing district policy can act as a template for decision-making. This isn’t your IT team’s first rodeo. Indeed, IT teams vetting solutions has been a crucial aspect of scaling K12 solutions and combating shadow IT threats.
Next, the cross-functional team can recommend training and development programs for staff and teachers at the district. These must be ongoing rather than one-off. AI tools are evolving fast, making a nimble approach to policy and support best for staff and students alike.
After training is complete, districts can test their processes, policies, and training by rolling out a small pilot program before AI solutions go live district-wide. This is the sandbox for finding potential security gaps, practicing prompting, and ensuring AI is a complement to staff and teachers’ workloads.
AI policies protect human students
This pilot approach also helps district IT staff measure readiness among staff members. It’s a chance to establish boundaries about how people safeguard real students’ data and outcomes. Districts are flanking AI assists with human sentries at multiple points. Human-centric AI policies may include:• A guarantee that staff use only district-approved AI solutions.
• A guarantee that grading and discipline always comes from a teacher, never an AI.
• Safeguards for the youngest students.
• Compliance with FERPA and COPPA, among other regulations designed to protect students’ identities online.
• Prioritization of academic integrity.
• Input from community members, district employees, students, families, and professionals.
AI policy is iterative and collaborative
Advocates for AI tools often point to late adopters in comparison to other tech revolutions in history. After all, very few people’s horsepower comes from animals anymore, and a smartphone is always within arms’ reach.Do not conflate speed with success in AI policy. Instead, a collaborative, methodical, and highly iterative approach protects students from the whiplash of another new tech for tech’s sake. By following the thoughtful approach from K12 IT leaders, students can enjoy the best of AI under the watchful eye of their expert coaches.
That is to say, human teachers.
Read more from a real AI policy guidebook.
WHAT'S NEXT FOR YOUR EDTECH? The right combo of tools & support retains staff and serves students better. We'd love to help. Visit skyward.com/get-started to learn more.
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Erin Werra Blogger, Researcher, and Edvocate |
Erin Werra is a content writer and strategist at Skyward’s Advancing K12 blog. Her writing about K12 edtech, data, security, social-emotional learning, and leadership has appeared in THE Journal, District Administration, eSchool News, and more. She enjoys puzzling over details to make K12 edtech info accessible for all. Outside of edtech, she’s waxing poetic about motherhood, personality traits, and self-growth.
