Backpacks Down, Guardrails Up: Summer AI Policy Planning 

As hallways quiet for summer, school leaders finally have the breathing room to prepare for the next big shift: Artificial Intelligence. While AI offers immense potential for productivity and engagement, it also introduces risks regarding academic integrity, data privacy, and professional judgment. 

Summer is the ideal window to establish clear expectations before the first bell rings in August. Waiting for a “crisis” in the fall may result in inconsistent and reactive decision-making.

Accommodation or Workaround? Artificial Intelligence and FAPE

New and advancing artificial intelligence tools can be effective accommodations for students with disabilities to support their participation in the general education curriculum. But accommodations are not instruction. IEP teams will need to carefully consider when such tools are appropriate and when specialized instruction in underlying skills is warranted. Teams should also take care not to overlook learning gaps when students independently employ AI tools as compensatory strategies to mask lagging skills. A recent Tennessee case highlights this issue and reminds teams that grades may not provide a clear signal of a student’s progress.