Student use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT should be determined by each district’s policies, age guidelines, and instructional goals. AI can be used responsibly in supervised, age-appropriate ways when aligned to clear expectations around privacy, disclosure, and academic integrity. Students should never use AI tools without guidance, foundational AI literacy instruction, and alignment with district-approved tools and terms of service. NWRESD recommends using one district directed AI platform that is developed for education and provides additional guardrails and safety for students.

Northwest Regional ESD provides training, implementation guidance, policy consultation, and student safety resources. Districts may request AI 101 training, board presentations, policy review support, incident response guidance, or assistance developing district-specific AI literacy plans. Our goal is to help districts lead proactively, protect student safety, and implement AI in ways that strengthen learning and equity.

NWRESD provides the following resources, please reach out directly to Megan Logan (mlogan@nwresd.k12.or.us) for further support.

• Top 5 AI District Moves to Get Started
• NWRESD AI Toolkit:  Foundations for Responsible, Human-Centered AI Use for School Districts
• AI 101 In-Person Training for district staff
• ESD Developed Chatbots:
  • NWRESD’s Meeting Maven
  •  NWRESD’s Equity-Based Continuous Improvement Guide

AI Empowered EDU Conference:  May 12, 2026 - REGISTER HERE

The best way to address use of AI in the academic setting is through the creation of durable tasks and the use of AI use scales. After using these measures, AI-assisted academic dishonesty should be addressed through existing academic integrity policies. The focus should be on clarity of expectations, assignment design, transparency of AI use, and restorative responses when misuse occurs. Detection tools alone should not be treated as conclusive evidence. Emphasizing process-based learning, reflection, and clear disclosure expectations reduces misuse and strengthens instructional integrity.

Broad bans are not recommended. AI tools are already embedded in many platforms students and staff use daily. Attempts to prohibit all use can widen inequities and push usage underground. Instead, districts should establish clear guardrails, define when and how AI may be used, and build AI literacy so students and staff can use these tools responsibly and ethically.

FERPA and other student data privacy laws still apply when using AI tools. Personally identifiable information (PII) should never be entered into public or unapproved AI platforms. Districts must vet AI tools for compliance, review vendor agreements carefully, and ensure that staff understand data-sharing risks. AI does not change privacy law, but rather increases the importance of following it carefully.

AI companion and role-play apps designed to simulate personal relationships present elevated risks for minors, including exposure to explicit content, emotional dependency, and privacy concerns. These tools are not instructional platforms and should be blocked on district-managed devices and networks. Educators are encouraged to proactively teach digital citizenship and discuss the risks associated with these tools.