AI and Your Student in Seattle Public Schools

I will up doing multiple posts but let's just start with AI in SPS. 

Another long-time public education advocate, Leonie Haimson, who covers NYC public education, had this to say when I asked her about AI:

I believe it is the greatest threat to education right now – as well as huge threat to the environment as you point out.  

Here is her group's PowerPoint on AI (She leads the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy).

Emily Cherkin is a noted speaker and writer on screen time in schools; her website is The Screentime Consultant. She's an SPS  parent. Right on her home page she says:

Technology has fundamentally changed parenting, teaching, and learning.

I absolutely agree. 

Help me out - what have you heard from your child's teacher and your child's school?

Here's what I have heard from one SPS parent, Emily Cherkin, who told me:

Kids were/are using ChatGPT to write essays (because of course they are), and when I complained, the district supposedly blocked ChatGPT but kids now have access and are using Microsoft CoPilot. I've tested it on my daughter's portal. Kids can still use it to do homework. A teacher has also told me that the district told her to use AI to grade student papers because she expressed concern about her workload (there were 39 students in each of her classes). 

What is happening in Seattle Schools? 

Here's the AI page from the SPS website.  They list these programs as what SPS uses: MagicSchool AI, Canva, Adobe Express and Photoshop. 

Here is what OSPI says: (bold mine)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here to stay. As this new technology continues to evolve, educators must prepare students to understand and use these tools. In Washington state, educators are already integrating AI-assisted technologies in schools and empowering students to do the same. The state's responsibility is to provide students, educators, and school district administrators with the resources and tools they need to understand how to use these technologies effectively, ethically, and safely.

The rapid development of AI tools has created opportunities for educators to rethink the way they approach student learning. As our state embraces these changes, it is important to remember that human reflection and understanding are key to AI generation. This "Human-AI-Human" approach to AI puts our students and educators at the beginning and end of all interactions with AI.

So is AI a runaway train that districts just have to grab onto or be left behind? I don't think so and it's really a stretch to believe that.  

Apparently OSPI put on an AI "Innovation Summit" in Feb. 2025. I note that I see only one session on AI security.

In the educational context, AI-assisted learning can look like personal tutoring programs, virtual assistants, and software with the capability to generate lesson plans within seconds. It is important to note that educators and students must remain at the center of instruction and learning in these cases.

"Personal tutoring?" Would you leave your child alone with an adult you didn't know to be tutored? Would you be glad to know your child's teacher was letting AI craft a lesson plan? Sure, there are basic things that would make it easier for teachers but a complete lesson plan? 

It is important that policies also consider student safety and well-being, and provide access to educational tools for all students.

That's so generous of OSPI to ask for policies to "consider" student safety and well-being. Those two items should be the number one things ANY district, school or teacher does - protect students and be inclusive. 

I would also add that "access to educational tools for all students" should ALSO include access for ALL parents as to what is happening in their student's class.

Update note:

Looks like OSPI used AI to write OSPI's Comprehensive Guide to AI info.

AI Use Disclaimer

In crafting this guidance, OSPI harnessed the power of Large Language Models (LLMs). Anchored in the "Human AI Human” paradigm, this document aims to foster and model responsible and ethical engagement with AI technologies. Educators are encouraged to leverage AI as an augmentation tool, preserving human insight and creativity.

SPS has created an Artificial Intelligence Handbook.  

The intro for the handbook:

The SPS Artificial Intelligence (AI) Handbook aims to provide a comprehensive guide for integrating AI into the SPS educational environment. It outlines the benefits of AI in personalizing learning, supporting diverse student needs, and enhancing efficiency. The document emphasizes the importance of community support, equitable access to AI tools, and maintaining a safe and ethical AI environment. It also includes guidelines for responsible AI use, protecting student privacy, and addressing AI misuse. Overall, the handbook seeks to ensure that AI is used effectively and ethically to improve educational outcomes for all students.

AI impact in Education

AI is changing education by making learning more personalized and interactive. For example, AI can help teachers create lessons that fit each student’s needs, making it easier for everyone to understand the material. It can also provide instant feedback on assignments, so students know what they need to improve right away. Additionally, AI tools can help teachers with administrative tasks, giving them more time to focus on teaching.

AI holds significant potential to transform the educational experience in the classroom by personalizing learning, providing real-time feedback, and enhancing student engagement through interactive tools and resources. 

What is interesting about the handbook is that you can make comments. There is a comment symbol at the top right so do let them know what you think. 

Learn about AI Together

SPS is focused on fostering community support and providing resources for learning about AI by creating a collaborative environment where students, teachers, parents, and local organizations work together. This can be achieved through workshops with AI experts, access to educational resources, projects applying AI to real-world problems, and engaging parents through informational sessions. These strategies collectively empower everyone to learn about AI together.

Sounds good but have there been informational sessions at all schools? 

Decisions to use AI tools will be based on whether they significantly benefit student learning and if any risks can be adequately mitigated. AI tools can be used to aid learning, provide additional resources, and support research. However, they should be used thoughtfully and not as a replacement when a learning opportunity requires critical thinking, original idea creation, deep understanding, or thorough evaluation.

Efforts will be made to assess and address any risks of biased information produced by AI tools. Educators should identify how AI can show bias and lack representation. They must review AI use through an actively anti-racist educator lens and discuss these implications with students to identify paths for students to reflect on and address these issues.

Keep data private

When using AI protect personally identifiable information (PII). Do not share any PII, including name, birthdate, address, phone number, social security number, or other financial or confidential information. When asked to provide information think about whether that information is really needed by the requester. Always make sure there's a written agreement in place about how that information can be used.

Choose Trustworthy AI Tools

We carefully select AI tools that protect our students' privacy. Any outside companies we work with must follow strict data protection rules and comply with FERPA (a law that protects student information).

To note, FERPA is a toothless tiger that hasn't been significantly updated since about 1978. Nothing in technology has changed since then so I guess that's fine. I find it sad that states and districts are not clamoring for this protection to be updated.  

Think Before You Share

Before giving any student information to an AI tool, ask yourself, "Does it really need to know this?" Don't share anything that's not necessary – it's like keeping secrets safe with a good friend.

Know what you might tell your child? Some things should be a secret because sometimes friends come and go.  Or you have a fight with one and suddenly that secret that they hold might be in danger. 

"Free" AI Tools Might Not Be Free

Be careful with AI tools that are free to use. They might collect information about your students, like their messages, files, and feedback. It's like talking to a stranger on the bus – you don't know where your words might end up.

Well, if you are encouraging kids to use AI, yeah, it IS like a kid talking to a stranger on the bus.  

Protect Student Privacy

When using any AI tool, especially free ones, consider turning off the chat history. This way, your students' conversations won't be saved or used to train the AI. It's like having a private conversation that stays between you and the AI. 

AI Misuse

Academic Dishonesty/Plagiarism is the deliberate submission of others’ work as one’s own or aiding another in such conduct, along with unauthorized use of sources, as outlined in the SPS’s Student Rights and Responsibilities Handbook. Unauthorized use of AI or ChatGPT without proper citation is considered a breach of this policy, leading to potential disciplinary action.

The SPS Discipline Matrix provides for either a classroom-based or school-based response (excluding exclusion) for instances of academic dishonesty/plagiarism. It is recommended that schools revise their discipline policies and student handbooks to explicitly address the unauthorized utilization of AI tools.

Parents, what has gone home about AI and its misuse in student work?

Student Rights with AI

Students may use AI on an assignment if the classroom teacher permits. If the teacher has not specifically indicated whether AI is recommended or permitted for an assignment, the student should ask before using AI.

Again, did this information come to parents in any way and how was it explained to students, just verbally or in writing?

Types of AI Permission Levels 

 

AI Recommended

AI is recommended for use in completing this assignment or project. Students are encouraged to explore AI tools and techniques to enhance their work. Properly cite any AI-generated work products. 

 

AI Permitted

AI is permitted but not required for completing this assignment or project. Students can choose to use AI tools and techniques if they believe it will improve their work. Properly cite any AI-generated work products. 

 

AI Restricted

AI use in completing this assignment or project is restricted. Students are expected to complete the work using only their own knowledge and skills. 

The handbook also says it "may send out surveys to assess how well AI is assisting our staff and students."

Success Stories with AI

Please contact techline@seattleschools.org with your success stories!

Reporting AI Ethical Issues

If you have questions or concerns about AI: Speak Up! If you're worried about how AI is being used in our schools,we want to hear from you. Whether it's about privacy, fairness, or anything else, don't be afraid to ask questions or share your concerns. Your voice is important! You can submit questions via the SPS AI webpage (https://www.seattleschools.org/ai/)

 

The AI page includes "Guiding AI Principles." 

• Be Student/Human-Centered - Decisions to use AI tools will be based on whether they significantly benefit student learning and if any risks can be adequately mitigated. AI tools can be used to aid learning, provide additional resources, and support research. However, they should not be used when a learning opportunity calls for critical thinking, original idea creation, in-depth understanding, or evaluation. SPS will also be restricting several of the most common generative ai tools for our Prek-5th graders, given that some AI platform content filtering and safety controls don’t work well enough for our youngest learners.
• Demonstrate Transparency - Staff will be explicit in syllabi and assignments about the integration of AI tools into student activities. Learning opportunities should clearly specify which AI tools are allowed (if any) and the purpose for which they should be used. Educators should also be transparent about the role of AI tools in their instruction and/or work and model this for students. 
• Practice Academic Integrity - AI tools should not be used to create products to be submitted as a student or educator’s original work unless explicitly allowed for that purpose. Use of AI tools can be seen as analogous to getting assistance from another person or source. Any substantial help from AI tools in completing assignments or exams must be acknowledged and clearly communicated or cited using the correct format.
• Cultivate Ethical AI Use and Digital Citizenship - The use of AI tools should not cause harm. Students, educators, and families should be educated on the ethical implications of AI use (e.g., concerns about data privacy, intellectual property rights and copyright, safety, bias in AI, and the potential consequences of over-reliance on AI). Students and staff should recognize and demonstrate an understanding of the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world and use AI in ways that are safe, legal, and ethical.
• Protect Privacy and Security - Attention will be given to protecting personal data and ensuring users are aware of risks associated with AI tool usage. All use of AI tools must adhere to privacy policies to protect student data. Any AI tool in use must comply with local and national data privacy laws and regulations.
• Mitigate and Identify Bias - Efforts will be made to assess and address any risks of biased information produced by AI tools. Educators should identify how AI can show bias and lack representation. They must review AI use through an actively anti-racist educator lens and discuss these implications with students to identify paths for students to reflect on and address these issues. 
• Ensure Equitable Access - AI tools required in courses should be available and accessible to all users, to prevent disparities in learning opportunities and future career-connected learning pathways. Accommodations should be made to ensure equitable access to approved AI tools that support teaching and learning. 
• Establish Accountability - Educators and students should always check the information provided by an AI tool for bias and accuracy (invented, missing, or incorrect information). Regardless of AI use, human authors will remain accountable for all content produced.

These are all good principles but it seems like quite a lot to go over, especially for middle and high school students. When did this happen? 

Also, the sample videos to teach students about AI are not great.