ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Artificial intelligence is already making its way into Orange County classrooms, and school leaders say how it\u2019s used matters just as much as keeping student data safe.<\/p>\n
Orange County Public Schools held a board workshop Monday to discuss a proposed AI policy, ahead of a regular board meeting at 5 p.m. at OCPS headquarters in downtown Orlando.<\/p>\n
Scott Howat, the district\u2019s chief communications officer, said protecting students starts with keeping humans in charge.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to make sure there\u2019s always a human in the loop when you\u2019re talking about artificial intelligence,\u201d Howat said. \u201cThe computer is secondary. We want to make sure there\u2019s a human there that\u2019s checking the work.\u201d<\/p>\n
Howat said the district\u2019s approved AI platforms use closed AI, meaning the code is kept private by the school to protect student data.<\/p>\n
What the proposed policy would do<\/p>\n
The proposed policy would require all AI tools to be vetted by the district before use. Key provisions include:<\/p>\n
Banning OpenAI programs for students and staff, so no district or student work can be used to train future AI models.<\/p>\n
Prohibiting student data from being entered into any AI program.<\/p>\n
Banning deepfakes and copyright infringement.<\/p>\n
Holding students and staff accountable for how AI is used<\/p>\n
Strengthening rules around cyberbullying and AI use in mental health <\/p>\n
Blocking students from using AI chatbots for emotional support.<\/p>\n
Teachers would also be required to use AI detectors to check whether students are doing their own work.<\/p>\n
Students and parents weigh in<\/p>\n
Student town halls were held across each school board member\u2019s district. The common thread: students felt it was unfair that teachers could use AI when they couldn\u2019t. Many also said AI could help fill gaps in tutoring support and that for some students, AI feels like the only help available.<\/p>\n
More than 5,800 parents responded to a district survey about AI in schools. Parents weighed in on their concerns, which grade levels should have access to AI, and how comfortable they felt with their children using it for schoolwork. Some said the technology has no place in the classroom. Others said it\u2019s the next step forward. Some parents also worried the district might use AI to reduce human staff.<\/p>\n
Mental health a top concern<\/p>\n
School board members flagged mental health as a major concern, specifically making sure students don\u2019t turn to AI as their only source of support.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s something that\u2019s concerning involving a student, then we act on that, whether it\u2019s through law enforcement or whether it\u2019s through school psychologists or social worker or just school staff,\u201d Howat said. \u201cWe make sure that we\u2019re responding to that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Howat said AI should never replace real human connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt should not replace learning. It shouldn\u2019t replace human interaction. We need to make sure we are protecting that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The district plans to vote on the AI policy in June.<\/p>\n
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