AI Policy for Educators: Simple Template For Schools & Districts

Written By Hrishi Vora

1. Purpose and Scope

The purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the ethical and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) by educators within the school’s community. This policy applies to all faculty, staff, and administrators who use AI tools and applications in their professional roles, whether on school premises or during remote/online teaching activities.

2. Definition of AI

For the purpose of this policy, artificial intelligence (AI) refers to software, platforms, or services that automate tasks typically requiring human intelligence. This may include (but is not limited to) natural language processing (e.g., ChatGPT), predictive analytics, recommendation engines, automated grading tools, and content generation tools.

3. Ethical Principles and Compliance

  • Student-Centered Focus: The integration of AI must enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning. AI should never replace the fundamental teacher-student relationship.

  • Privacy and Data Protection: All AI usage must comply with relevant data protection regulations (FERPA, COPPA, GDPR, or local equivalents). Educators must ensure that no personally identifiable student information is unlawfully collected, stored, or shared by AI tools.

  • Informed Consent: Educators should inform students (and parents/guardians, where applicable) about the use of AI tools that might collect or process student data.

  • Fairness and Equity: AI tools must be selected and implemented to avoid discrimination or bias. Educators are responsible for continuously monitoring AI outputs for potential biases.

  • Academic Integrity: The use of AI must support authentic learning experiences. Educators should make clear the boundaries of AI-assisted content to maintain fairness and avoid undermining academic standards.

4. Acceptable Use Guidelines

  • Instructional Content Creation:

    • Lesson Planning & Materials: Educators may use AI to generate lesson plans, worksheets, quizzes, or other materials, provided they review and adapt them to ensure accuracy, relevance, and alignment with learning standards.

    • Assessment Tools: AI-driven assessment generators or graders may be used as a supplementary tool, but final grading decisions rest with the educator.

  • Administrative Tasks:

    • Record Keeping: AI may be used to streamline administrative tasks (e.g., attendance tracking, scheduling) where permitted by the school’s data policy.

    • Communication: Educators may use AI to draft emails or newsletters, but should proofread and personalize these communications to maintain a human touch.

  • Professional Development:

    • Training and Collaboration: Educators are encouraged to use AI tools for professional learning, such as generating new teaching strategies, research summaries, or collaboration with peers (e.g., idea exchanges on shared platforms).

5. Restrictions and Prohibitions

  • Student Data: Under no circumstances should educators input sensitive, personally identifiable student information (names, IDs, grades, health records) into AI tools without explicit authorization and strict privacy compliance.

  • Plagiarism or Misrepresentation: Educators must not present AI-generated content as entirely their own intellectual property without review or attribution, especially in formal documentation or publications.

  • High-Stakes Decisions: Educators should not rely solely on AI outputs for critical decisions about student progression, discipline, or special accommodations.

6. Accuracy and Validation

  • Content Review: Educators must validate AI-generated content for factual accuracy, currency, and suitability.

  • Bias Detection: Teachers should monitor AI outputs for potential biases or inappropriate language. Any suspicious outputs must be immediately reported and removed.

7. Training and Support

  • Initial and Ongoing Training: The school will provide professional development workshops or tutorials on effective and ethical AI use. Educators are expected to attend these trainings.

  • Resource Sharing: Educators should share experiences, lessons learned, and best practices for AI integration within faculty meetings or on internal forums.

8. Policy Compliance and Enforcement

  • Monitoring: School administrators or designated IT staff may periodically review how AI tools are used to ensure compliance.

  • Violations: Educators who violate this policy may face disciplinary actions, ranging from a warning to revocation of AI tool access, depending on the severity.

  • Appeals Process: An appeals process will be in place for educators to contest any disciplinary action under this policy.

9. Review and Revision

This policy is subject to annual review by an AI Governance Committee comprised of administrators, educators, and IT experts. Revisions will be communicated to all staff for feedback and subsequent adoption.

Hrishi Vora
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