AI Guidance

Responsible AI use in schools.

Practical guidance for administrators, teachers, boards, and technology leaders who want to integrate AI into learning instead of simply banning it.

Core position

AI should be treated as a tool students need to understand, not as something schools can realistically avoid. Good policy should teach responsible use, protect privacy, support teachers, and preserve academic integrity.

Policy principles

Use AI to support learning

AI can help with brainstorming, tutoring, accessibility, summarization, feedback, and practice. It should not replace student thinking.

Require disclosure when appropriate

Students should know when and how to disclose AI assistance, especially for writing, research, coding, analysis, and creative work.

Protect student privacy

Schools should avoid putting sensitive student information into AI tools unless the tool has been approved and reviewed.

Design better assignments

Assignments should include process, reflection, drafts, discussion, in-class work, source evaluation, and teacher judgment.

AI detection tools

Do not rely only on AI detectors

AI detection tools can be unreliable, can produce false positives, and may create fairness issues. They should not be the only evidence used for discipline.

A better approach is to review student process, writing history, drafts, teacher observations, discussion, citations, and student explanation.

Suggested school policy language

Students may use approved AI tools when permitted by the teacher and when the use supports learning objectives. Students must follow assignment-specific instructions, protect private information, verify AI-generated content, and disclose AI assistance when required.

AI use is not permitted when it replaces required student work, violates assessment rules, fabricates sources, copies protected material, or conflicts with teacher instructions.

Allowed, limited, and prohibited uses

Generally Allowed
  • Brainstorming ideas
  • Explaining difficult concepts
  • Creating study questions
  • Improving grammar with disclosure
  • Practicing coding concepts
Teacher Permission
  • Draft editing
  • Research summaries
  • Code generation
  • Image generation
  • Translation support
Not Allowed
  • Submitting AI work as fully original
  • Using AI on closed-book tests
  • Fabricating citations
  • Entering private student data
  • Bypassing teacher instructions

Administrative checklist

Define approved AI tools.
Create grade-level AI expectations.
Train teachers on assignment design and responsible use.
Set privacy rules for student data.
Create disclosure language students can understand.
Avoid discipline based only on AI detector scores.
Review policy each school year.