AI in Education

No. Families may not opt out of AI when it is part of district‑approved instructional resources. Allowing opt‑outs from specific tools or materials would disrupt teaching, learning, and the classroom environment, as instructional resources are selected to support shared learning goals and experiences. 

Yes. WCASD follows Board Policy 815.6 – Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence in Education, which outlines expectations for responsible, ethical use and guides district decision‑making. 

Protecting student privacy is a non‑negotiable priority. All district‑approved AI tools are FERPA‑ and COPPA‑compliant, covered by data privacy agreements, and used only in teacher‑managed instructional settings. Students do not create personal accounts and do not have independent access to open, public AI tools or large language models. 

District devices use content filtering to restrict access to inappropriate or unapproved AI tools. Students do not have access to the main portals of public large language AI models through district systems, and any AI use that occurs at school happens only through district‑approved, teacher‑guided instructional tools. 

While the district cannot control access on personal devices that do not connect on our network, safeguards on district devices are regularly reviewed and updated as AI technologies evolve, and expectations for safe and responsible use are reinforced through instruction and school guidelines. 

Research on AI in education is still emerging. WCASD does not assume AI improves learning by default. Tools are explored carefully, feedback is gathered from classrooms, and approaches are adjusted as research and experience evolve. 

Educators participate in ongoing professional learning focused on understanding generative AI, its limitations, and ethical considerations. Opportunities have included required learning through staff meetings as well as optional professional development, with a focus on how AI can thoughtfully enhance instructional practice and support students in the classroom through sound instructional decision‑making and responsible use, when appropriate. 

Students receive age‑appropriate instruction that introduces what AI is and is not, how it can be misleading, and the importance of responsible use. As WCASD continues to develop AI literacy within our digital literacy work, classroom pilots help inform future instruction while keeping learning thoughtful and developmentally appropriate. 

AI use in elementary grades does not include student access to large language models, such as ChatGPT or Claude, or any open‑ended AI experiences. Any AI‑related experiences occur only through teacher‑created, teacher‑guided activities using district‑reviewed tools such as MagicSchool, SchoolAI or Snorkl. While a small number of classrooms have engaged in these limited, educator‑directed experiences, overall use has not been widespread. Additionally, families of students in classrooms involved in the 2025-26 AI pilot were informed in advance.