The Landscape of AI Adoption and Policy in K-12
A review of how districts and policymakers are responding to AI.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming many sectors, including K-12 education. As district leaders and tech experts explore the potential of generative AI tools like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google Bard, there is an urgent need for frameworks and protocols to inform the safe, equitable, and ethical deployment of this technology. This article delves into the current landscape of AI adoption in schools and highlights the importance of co-creating flexible policies to help guide implementation.
The State of AI Adoption in Districts
Let’s delve into how various school districts are navigating this new frontier. From basic exploration of ChatGPT to piloting cutting-edge tools to grappling with rollout strategy and policy implications, school districts in the United States (and around the world) are currently at a wide variety of different stages when it comes to AI integration. A few examples of districts experimenting with AI adoption include:
In August, the superintendent of Los Angeles Unified (the nation's second-largest school district) announced that an AI chatbot named “Ed” will be the district's newest student advisor, programmed to tell parents and guardians about their child’s grades, tests results and attendance.
The Cleveland Metropolitan School District is piloting an AI tool called “Amira” that serves as a literacy tutor. The product listens to students read, corrects mistakes in real-time, and aids teachers in creating ELA lesson plans.
Austin Independent School District in Texas is employing an AI-enabled “early warning” system that alerts educators if students are off-track (or predicted to be off-track) academically.
The School District of Philadelphia is using a chatbot to answer questions online from family members in hopes of improving operational efficiency and communication.
Prince George County Schools in Maryland is providing educators with professional development focused on equipping classroom teachers and student support staff with tools for incorporating AI into their pedagogy.
While many of these larger districts are forging ahead with the integration of AI into classrooms (and behind-the-scenes), the majority of smaller districts are experiencing numerous ethical and logistical challenges. These communities tend to be in a “wait and see” holding pattern and are looking to state education departments and other governing bodies for guidance on policies before diving into the proverbial deep end of AI implementation.
The Need for Flexible Policy
While most generative AI tools are still in their infancy, the field is quickly advancing, and this technology is evolving faster than districts can keep up. And, although there is no shortage of professional development resources for educators on AI, there is a glaring gap when it comes to policies for ethical, equitable, and safe AI adoption that can be flexible enough to shift as AI tools grow and adapt over time.
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