Key Takeaways
- The New Mexico Public Education Department has released guidance for kindergarten through 12th grade on the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms.
- School districts in San Juan County are developing their own policies to guide the use of AI in classrooms, with Aztec Municipal Schools being the first to approve a policy.
- The policy prohibits students from using AI to generate and submit non-original work, complete tests or assignments, or avoid learning processes.
- Staff and students are only allowed to use district-approved AI tools, and training and professional development will be provided to instructional staff.
- Other school districts in San Juan County, such as Farmington Municipal Schools and Central Consolidated School District, are also taking steps to develop AI policies.
Introduction to AI Policy
The use of artificial intelligence in classrooms has become a rapidly evolving technology that has raised concerns about academic dishonesty, student safety, and responsible use. In response, the New Mexico Public Education Department released its first version of AI guidance for kindergarten through 12th grade in May. However, there is no current law or NMPED requirement for school districts to implement AI policies. As Jonathan Acrey, deputy superintendent of Aztec Municipal Schools, noted, "We couldn’t just approach a single AI policy that would cover both students and staff. How do we want students to engage with this? What are some of the guardrails that we need to put into place so we can try to make sure we’re keeping our students safe so that we can make sure that we’re teaching them responsible use."
Development of AI Policy
The policy approved by Aztec Municipal Schools, Policy 1-6450, was developed using internal conversations and guidance from the NMPED. As Laci Newland, secretary, said, "The state did not provide guidance for building a policy for AI at that time, so the district sought assistance from other districts." The policy outlines the use of artificial intelligence for teachers and students, including age-appropriate instruction on how AI works, the ethical use of AI, and safety issues around AI. As Mariana Padilla, Secretary of NMPED, stated, "Our vision is to bring AI into New Mexico classrooms and to do so in a way that puts students and educators at the center of this digital transformation. AI can enrich the learning experience, but it is human oversight, inquiry, and reflection that ultimately drive meaningful education."
Prohibited AI Use
The policy prohibits students from using AI to generate and submit non-original work, complete tests or assignments, or avoid learning processes. Students are also prohibited from using personal information in AI tools or platforms and generating AI content that is used for bullying or harassment. As Acrey noted, "We’ve tried to avoid consecrating as much as we can, and instead treat it as an opportunity to learn and educate our students." Staff have similar AI use guidelines, with several distinctions around final decisions in grading and hiring processes. The policy also states that staff and students will only use district-approved AI tools, which have yet to be identified.
Training and Professional Development
The policy also outlines training and professional development for instructional staff. As Acrey said, "We’re still in the process of developing what that’s going to look like. I foresee that we’ll probably have a couple of different stages to it." Leaders at site levels will most likely have meetings with teachers to determine training and how that will be integrated into their classrooms. As Acrey noted, "This is our job, to prepare students for the world that they’re going to be entering and do our best to support to make sure that they have the skills and foundation in place to be able to be successful."
AI Use in Other School Districts
Other school districts in San Juan County are also taking steps to develop AI policies. Farmington Municipal Schools has discussed the topic at the administrative level but has not yet approved a policy. Central Consolidated School District plans to approve a policy by next school year and has conducted surveys with teachers, students, and parents to help draft a policy. Navajo Preparatory High School has had an AI policy built into its academic integrity policy for two years, which focuses on using AI as a tool rather than seeing it as something to fear or avoid completely. As Keith Neil, associate head of school for academics and operations, said, "AI can be used as a tool, much like a calculator. It will not replace math skills but can enhance math learning."
Aztec Municipal Schools approve artificial intelligence policy