Houston ISD Equips Educators with New Secure AI Tools Through ChatGPT Edu Rollout
HOUSTON, TX – Houston Independent School District (HISD) is expanding access to secure artificial intelligence tools for teachers and staff through the introduction of ChatGPT Edu, a new offering from OpenAI built specifically for K–12 education. As technology becomes an integral part of the modern workforce, HISD is taking another step to ensure educators have safe, innovative, and effective tools that support teaching
and learning.
ChatGPT Edu provides educators with a secure workspace where they can adapt instructional materials, streamline lesson planning, analyze information, and collaborate with colleagues. OpenAI is making this version of ChatGPT available to verified U.S. teachers, school staff, and district leaders through June 2027, along with training and implementation support.
Teachers across the country already use AI to help plan lessons, brainstorm ideas, communicate with families, and save time. HISD’s move to bring these tools into a district-managed, secure environment ensures that teachers can use AI confidently and responsibly.
Security and privacy are top priorities for HISD and its families. ChatGPT Edu includes safeguards that meet the needs of large public school systems:
Data privacy: Information shared in ChatGPT Edu is not used to train OpenAI models. OpenAI will sign a Data Processing Addendum (DPA) with districts to help ensure teacher and student data stays protected and supports FERPA compliance.
District security controls: HISD can manage access and permissions centrally using multi-factor authentication (MFA) and SAML SSO, keeping accounts secure and aligned with district protocols.
Protected collaboration: Educators can share lesson plans, ideas, and projects within a private, district-governed workspace.
“Many of us have already seen how tools like ChatGPT can make work more efficient, from writing emails and lesson plans to analyzing data or sparking creative ideas. Now, with the new HISD Secure Workspace, we’re taking that experience to the next level,” said Kerri Holt, HISD Chief Technology Officer. “This new offering brings powerful, secure AI technology directly into our district’s ecosystem, built to protect our data, support our educators, and supercharge how we collaborate and innovate. Whether our staff are longtime ChatGPT users or just getting started, this is an exciting step forward. They will have access to trusted AI tools that will help them save time, think bigger, and focus on what matters most: supporting our students and community.”
HISD is proud to join a cohort of innovative school districts working with OpenAI to share real-world classroom needs and help shape how ChatGPT Edu is rolled out nationally. Insights from HISD educators and staff will help refine the tools, resources, and supports that will serve teachers across the country.