Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies are evolving quickly, and with those advances come many opportunities and challenges for TK-12 schools. Whether it’s from a policy or curricular perspective, governing board members are looking for support. The CSBA AI Taskforce: Education in the Age of Artificial Intelligence is working to address these issues in their ongoing work.

The most recent meeting of the taskforce on May 29 further outlined and developed resources the group would like to deliver to support the work of boards of education. The aim is to provide trustee-specific information to empower governance teams to appropriately vet, adopt, manage, monitor and be accountable for the efficacy and equity of AI tools and their use by students and staff.

The taskforce has formed two subcommittees to focus on: (1) the policy aspects of the work and (2) how new and curated resources will be disseminated when ready. The Policy Subcommittee narrowed down its focus to direct CSBA staff to re-examine and update policies related to access and equity issues around AI, due process issues, accountability, privacy and confidentiality. CSBA staff is evaluating which policies may be affected. Once the policies have been updated, the committee will weigh in before the final GAMUT policy packet release dates in September and December. In the meantime, subcommittee members will be developing a series of sample scenarios that boards can work through to better understand the real-life applications of AI and how student and teacher use in and outside of the classroom might take shape. Other possible work products include sample resolutions from member local educational agencies on AI use in schools and a review of current legislation related to AI.

The Dissemination Subcommittee is focused on how to get the word out to members once final work products are ready to launch in September on the new AI Taskforce webpage. The group is evaluating existing AI resources to determine where gaps might be filled, and members are building out a resource library on the use of AI in schools from trusted sources. The group is also developing a series of webinars for next school year highlighting AI experts and member LEAs that are implementing promising practices related to the implementation, use and monitoring of AI in the school setting.

Future activities of the AI Taskforce include a CSBA Annual Education Conference and Trade Show workshop to further share the valuable policies and resources developed and curated by taskforce members. Learn more about the taskforce: csba.pub/ai-taskforce.