In education, AI has the potential to enhance efficiency, personalize learning, and support creativity, but it also poses risks like data privacy concerns, bias, and challenges with academic integrity. Responsible use, human oversight, and compliance with data protection laws are essential to maximizing the benefits of AI.

• Verify Outputs: Always evaluate AI-generated content for factual accuracy, potential bias, and appropriateness before using it in the classroom or in administrative work.
• Critical Evaluation: Teach students to evaluate AI outputs and encourage them to cross-reference AI-generated content with reliable sources.
• Data Privacy Compliance: Ensure that any AI tool that handles student or staff data is vetted and approved by the Pittsford Central School District to be in accordance with Ed Law 2D.
• Equitable Access: If an assignment permits the use of district AI tools, the tool will be accessible to all students.
• Transparency: Communicate with students and families about the role of AI in the classroom, including how it supports instruction and how data is protected.
• Ethical Use: Foster discussions about the ethical implications of AI, including bias, privacy, and responsible use in academic and personal contexts.
• Academic Honesty: Educators and students should cite the use of an AI tool when the tool directly contributes to the content, ideas, or wording of their work. When questioning the authenticity of a student's work, AI detection software can be an effective tool. However, detection results need to be considered within the context of all that is known about a student's work and with an understanding that no detection software is 100% accurate.
• Developmentally Appropriate Guidance: Provide developmentally appropriate guidelines for AI use. Some students may require more supervision and simpler AI tools, while other students can engage with more complex applications under teacher guidance.

AI tools can be leveraged to improve operational efficiency and support instructional planning. Faculty and staff are encouraged to use AI responsibly while adhering to Pittsford Central School District policies and privacy regulations. AI can serve as a valuable assistant but must not replace human expertise or professional decision-making.

Appropriate Use of AI (examples):
Lesson Design:

• Draft lesson outlines aligned with curriculum standards.
• Assist in the creation of differentiated instructional materials tailored to diverse student needs.
• Draft quizzes, worksheets, and discussion prompt for classroom use.

Communication:

• Draft routine emails and newsletters to parents and guardians.
• Draft announcements and reminders for school events.
• Assist in the creation of templates for student feedback or individualized progress reports.

Data Analysis (Anonymize Personally Identifiable Information [PII]):

• Analyze assessment data to identify learning trends.
• Summarize large datasets to help guide instructional decisions.
• Track attendance patterns and identify areas for intervention.

Administrative Tasks:

• Automate scheduling for meetings, parent/guardian conferences, or other events.
• Summarize notes or lengthier documents.
• Draft procedural guidelines or surveys.

Prohibited Use of AI:
Automated Grading:

• Do not use AI as the sole method for assessing or grading student work. Human oversight is required to ensure fairness and accurate evaluation.

Faculty, Staff, and Student Records:

• Do not input Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or other sensitive data into AI platforms unless explicitly approved by the Pittsford Central School District and verified for Ed Law 2D compliance.

Decision-Making:

• Do not use AI to make final decisions regarding student performance, academic placement, or disciplinary actions. AI may assist in data analysis, but human judgment must guide all educational decisions.

AI can enhance learning experiences by offering personalized support, fostering creativity, and expanding access to information. It is important for faculty to consider what skills/content are being assessed when determining if, and to what extent, AI can be used for an assignment. Students must be taught to use AI as a tool for inquiry and creativity while understanding its ethical and practical limitations.

Appropriate Student Use of AI (examples):
Research Support:

• Summarize complex topics for better understanding.
• Draft research questions and project ideas.
• Explore AI-powered knowledge bases for academic inquiry.

Creative Projects:

• Draft AI-assisted multimedia presentations.
• Draft story starters or writing prompts.
• Enhance language learning with AI-generated dialogues and scenarios.

Skill Practice:

• Practice language skills through AI-driven conversation simulators.
• Explore potential solutions with the assistance of math-focused AI tools.
• Engage in personalized learning through adaptive learning platforms.

Prohibited Student Use of AI (examples):
Academic Honesty:

• Do not use AI to complete assessments, write essays, or produce work intended to represent their original thoughts.
• Submitting AI-generated work without citation is a violation of academic integrity policies.

Misuse of Data:

• Do not enter personal information, such as names or addresses, into AI platforms. Educators should provide clear guidance on what data is safe to share and what should remain private.

Inappropriate Usage:

• Do not use AI tools to create, share, and/or manipulate media for bullying, harassment, or any form of intimidation. In doing so, this behavior will result in disciplinary actions and/or legal consequences, in accordance with the Pittsford Central School District Code of Conduct.

New York State Education Law 2D requires the protection of student data privacy and security. All faculty and staff must ensure that AI use complies with these legal standards. Violations of Ed Law 2D may result in disciplinary actions and/or legal consequences.

Key Requirements:

Data Protection: Do not input Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or sensitive data into AI platforms. Examples of PII that should not be entered into AI platforms include:

• Student first and/or last names
• Student ID number(s)
• Home addresses or contact information
• Health or medical information
• Disciplinary records
• Grades or academic performance data
• Social Security numbers
• Parent or guardian information

Safe data practices include anonymizing information (e.g., using encrypted identifiers instead of names) and ensuring that all data-sharing adheres to Pittsford Central School District approved platforms and encryption standards.

Transparency with Families: Inform parents and guardians about AI that may be used in the classroom and how the Pittsford Central School District is safeguarding their child's data. Provide clear, accessible information about privacy protections. 

Ongoing Compliance: Regularly review and update AI usage practices to align with changing laws and technological advancements. Technology Services will maintain a list of approved AI applications and provide regular training on data privacy.

The Pittsford Central School District is committed to regularly evaluating the impact of AI on teaching, learning, and operational efficiency. This includes:

Feedback Collection:

• Gathering input from faculty, staff, students, and families to understand the effectiveness and challenges of AI use.

Policy Updates:

• Revising guidelines and policies annually, or as needed, to reflect best practices, legal requirements, and technological challenges.

Professional Development:

• Offering training and resources to support responsible and effective AI use for faculty and staff.

By adhering to these guidelines, we can harness the benefits of AI while maintaining ethical standards, safeguarding privacy, and promoting responsible use in our schools.