Schools Need Help with AI Policy & Practice
by Michael Mino
It’s hard to believe that only three years ago the world had not heard of ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot, Claude or any other form of AI. Fast forward to today: 122 million people use ChatGPT daily, with Google and Microsoft adding another 100 million. Google plans to make GeminiAI available to youth under 13, disregarding concerns about cheating and safety.
ChatGPT, Khanmigo, Magic School and countless other AI platforms are already impacting how students learn, how teachers teach, and how educational systems operate across the K-16 spectrum. Artificial Intelligence is no longer on the distant horizon: It’s on our phones, tablets and computers. It’s embedded in our academic, work and social lives. The pace of AI development and penetration is exponential. But the education world is only beginning to address policy development and professional preparedness.
Educators are faced with daily decisions on how to integrate or restrict these tools, often without guidance, standards, or consistent support. This policy vacuum hampers innovation and increases the risk of inequitable or harmful AI use. Schools need to ensure that students and teachers are using AI ethically, equitably and safely. The urgency to act has become an imperative for federal, state and district officials.
Massachusetts has been more proactive than the federal government and many states. DESE’s December 2024 AI Task Force report titled “Integrating Artificial Intelligence: Massachusetts AI Task Force Recommendations” provides a comprehensive call to action. It identifies AI as both an opportunity and a potential threat to educational equity. The recommendations span resource development, professional development and policy support, all grounded in equity and inclusion. The report states, “Without proactive guidance and support, digital access, use, and instructional design divides may only continue to expand, further impacting historically underserved communities.” In other words, inaction widens gaps in achievement, access, opportunity, and future readiness.
The report warns that AI use by students and teachers is outpacing school and district policy. It lays out clear areas of concern:
- AI literacy gaps among teachers, students, and administrators.
- Bias, misinformation, and data privacy risks.
- Lack of standardized AI integration in curricula.
- Inequitable access to safe and effective AI tools.
- Unpreparedness of new educators, due to insufficient tech and AI content in teacher training programs.
Without policy guidance, schools face a digital Wild West where some students benefit from personalized AI-powered instruction while others are left behind; or worse, exposed to unsafe or biased systems. DESE explicitly recommends that districts adopt AI usage policies, integrate AI into curriculum frameworks, and provide training in student data privacy. Districts that wait for a top-down mandate are likely to find themselves behind the curve and exposed to risk.
At JFYNetWorks, we’ve been navigating the emerging AI landscape alongside educators for three years. From digital curriculum design to AI-assisted writing and math assessment tools, we’ve supported teachers in using technology responsibly and effectively as a lever to improve equity and student performance. JFY can work with districts and schools in developing effective AI policy and instructional practices right now. We can assist with:
- AI Policy Development Support: We can help schools draft, adapt, or refine AI usage policies that align with DESE’s recommendations, including guidance on academic integrity, curriculum integration, data privacy, and digital equity.
- Professional Development and Training: We offer professional development on AI literacy for educators, from foundational understanding to classroom instruction strategies, incorporating ethical considerations and student data privacy.
- Tools and Assessment Models: Our AI-powered Writing Assessment Tool is already in use in schools, demonstrating how AI can improve student writing outcomes while reducing teacher workload. Our math assessment tool is in beta. These tools can be customized to local standards, Massachusetts frameworks, or teachers’ individual criteria. Together with our AI Academic Content Generator, we help teachers get up and running with AI quickly and painlessly.
- Strategic Planning: JFY has been helping schools navigate technological shifts since the earliest days of “computer-based instruction.” We partner with districts and schools to develop phased implementation plans that adapt innovation to practical classroom realities.
The DESE recommendations are not just aspirational: they are a blueprint for action. The technology is already here. Responsibility to harness it ethically and equitably lies with district and school leaders. JFYNetWorks stands ready to assist. We’ve been in the classroom with educators since the emergence of AI. We’re ready and able to help schools make the leap from reactive to proactive.
Call or email us today for more information or to schedule a consultation.
Michael Mino is an AI education development specialist working with JFY.
Other posts authored by Michael can be found here.
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