ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 Orange County Public Schools parents are divided over artificial intelligence in the classroom, and the school board is working to address their concerns with an updated policy.<\/p>\n
The district is holding a workshop to discuss new guidelines for AI use today, with hopes of having a policy in place before the next school year begins.<\/p>\n
More than 5,800 parents responded to a district survey, weighing in on their concerns about AI, which grade levels should have access to it, and how comfortable they felt with their children using it for schoolwork. <\/p>\n
Some parents say the technology has no place in the classroom.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just lazy, to use AI in schools with these kids nowadays, it\u2019s just lazy,\u201d mom Falice McLeod said.<\/p>\n
Others argue AI is simply the next step forward and could benefit both students and teachers.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, I think if it makes things better, faster, quicker for teachers and easier for them, why not use it?\u201d Christian Negron said.<\/p>\n
McLeod said she is not comfortable with students using AI, worrying it could undermine critical thinking and reading comprehension.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause now you have kids that are using AI to answer questions on the test, using AI to read a book to them. You know, like at this point they don\u2019t comprehend. They just hear it, but they\u2019re not comprehending,\u201d McLeod said.<\/p>\n
Negron disagreed, saying keeping students away from AI tools could actually set them back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI mean, it\u2019s the same thing now with coding, AI, all that stuff. It\u2019s just the direction we\u2019re going. To not teach them, we might even be kind of holding them back, you know,\u201d Negron said.<\/p>\n
The survey also revealed that some parents worried the district might use AI as a way to reduce human resources.<\/p>\n
The district used parent feedback to update its AI guidelines. Key changes include prohibiting student data from being entered into AI programs and banning the use of deepfakes, copyright infringement, and emotional support applications.<\/p>\n
Board Member Angie Gallo said during March\u2019s workshop that while AI represents the future of the workforce, safeguards are essential.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be able to use AI effectively, you\u2019ve got to be able to think critically, you\u2019ve got to be able to use prompts and the correct prompts, when you\u2019re prompting it in, the information you give back, you\u2019ve got to have the ability to analyze that data,\u201d Gallo said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd there are some harms, with AI with students that we have to discuss and we have to address and we have to put guardrails in.\u201d<\/p>\n
The board\u2019s workshop is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, where members will discuss the updated draft for the policy.<\/p>\n
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