Outside of the Robert D. Morrow Education Center for Tucson Unified School District.
While the district just passed its first AI policy, Senior Director for Educational Technology Tracey Rowley says they have already had to revise the district’s current guidelines on AI usage, written more than a year ago, due to how quickly the technology is changing.
“But the proposed policy that we are bringing to you addresses the importance of using AI responsibly and ethically, understands the limitations, being aware of the potential or bias, the need to vet AI responsibly, but we feel like this policy is made to last through the years,” she said.
The policy allows high school students to use approved AI tools. Though Rowley pointed out that the district has no way to block students from using the AI functions already infused in common resources, such as software from Microsoft and Google.
Sadie Shaw was the only governing board member who voted against the policy, saying she would rather they prohibit student use of AI.
“Because although some may say it is here to stay, and they're probably right, I don't think that the use of AI is going to be helpful in a real way that is going to benefit the students ability to be self-reliant in their own skills and creativity,” she said.
The district’s attorney said without any guidance from the board, the use of AI in the district would continue to grow with no boundaries whatsoever.
Besides limiting AI use to high school students over 13, the new policy includes the following guidelines:
- AI technologies must enhance learning and teaching practices.
- AI should not replace educators or staff, and all decisions involving AI require human review.
- Usage must align with the district’s values of fairness, equity and inclusivity as well as guidelines provided by the school and educators.
- AI tools must comply with the district’s standards for data security, privacy, instructional goals, and age-appropriateness.
- The district will provide training on proper AI usage for students and staff.
The district also said it will review the policy yearly.
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