MCS Adopts AI Policy

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh school board members adopted a new artificial intelligence policy earlier this month after a second reading.

Board members approved the policy at their February 11 meeting with no changes.

With the use of artificial intelligence increasing among adults, students, and in society, MCS officials have been developing a policy to cover AI use in the district since the beginning of the school year.

Board members reviewed the proposed policy at the their January meeting.

The approved policy reads in part, "Emerging artificial intelligence, AI, technology, especially generative AI, pose unique challenges and opportunities for learning environment. As these technologies integrate deeper into every day life, the district must proactively address the implications of AI usage to ensure it enhances educational outcomes without compromising academic integrity or equity. 

"This policy outlines the district's commitment to responsible AI integration and educational practices balancing innovation with core values of the districts educational mission. Further, it sets forth guidelines designed to evolve as new technologies methodologies emerge, ensuring the district remains at the forefront of academic excellence and technological responsibility." 

Generative AI represents a dynamic subset of AI technologies that can create new human-like content from extensive data training sets. "This content spans across text, images, audio, and more, office often mimicking human creativity, and adaptability."

The policy will include a section on student use. 

That section reads in part, “as students grow, they are offered increasing opportunities to engage with AI tools, and ways that are developmentally, appropriate, ethically, responsible, aligned with instructional goals, and supported by clear safeguards. The district's intent is to help all students develop the literacy, curiosity, critical thinking, and ethical reasoning necessary to use AI as a support for – not a substitute for – learning.

The student use guidelines are separated into grade level objectives and uses. The first one is for pre-kindergarten through second grade, the second for grades three through six, then seven through 12.

For pre-K through two, there is no access to generative AI tools and teacher supervision is required at all times. For grades three through six, only district approved tools, may be used. And for the upper grades, all use must align with district policy and academic integrity requirements, students are responsible for the accuracy, originality, and ethical use their work, and teachers provide oversight, while students demonstrate increasing self regulation.

There is also a section in the policy on district personnel use of AI. 

It states in part, “regardless of the tools used to enhance their work, personnel are ultimately responsible for the accuracy and integrity of all work they produce. AI is intended to support, not replace, and employees responsibility for their own work."