The district believes that to adequately prepare modern learners for the future, advances in technology should first be explored within the education environment. At its most simple, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) is automation based on association. Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools analyze large amounts of information and detect patterns using that information to draw a conclusion. The AI tools then improve the conclusions drawn based upon additional data reviewed, patterns found, and prior conclusions drawn. GenAI for the education environment has the potential to automate classroom organizational tasks, enhance individualized student learning, teaching, assessment of student learning, and even enhance research and professional development for educators.
However, GenAI tools can be vulnerable to inaccuracy in some significant ways. AI tools can have bias on how the tools detect patterns, detect patterns/draw conclusions based on inaccurate data, and may not be fully accessible to students to differing abilities. It is valuable for students to understand the potential uses and limitations of this imperfect technology in an educational environment where AI tools have been carefully selected and are monitored and reviewed within appropriate guidelines. For this reason, human oversight and decision making must lead the selection, use, and review of AI tools in the education environment.
Only humans can verify the accuracy of AI tools and apply proper context to any information generated from them. AI tools will never be the sole determining factor used to make decisions related to student learning, assessment, academic integrity, and behavior. All decisions must be made by appropriate licensed staff and based upon a holistic analysis of available evidence.
Privacy must be protected when using GenAI tools. AI draws conclusions based on analysis of data. No personally identifiable information about other students or staff will be shared with AI tools, without prior written consent from the parent or guardian of the student, or from the student/staff if applicable. Permission must be granted prior to students using open-source AI tools that may share information outside the tool itself, and with any entities outside the control of the privacy terms and conditions of the AI tool.
Use of AI tools by students and staff will be at all times appropriate to the educational environment and subject to all applicable laws, regulations, and policies. This includes but is not limited to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, Children’s Internet Protection Act, and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Rule; as well as district policies on student conduct, copyright protections, student records, personnel records, bullying and harassment, and staff/student expression.
The superintendent, working in collaboration with relevant staff, will develop regulations necessary to carry out the intent of this policy.
Adopted: 8/24
Related Policy: 603.16-R1-R3
Legal Reference (Code of Iowa): § 279.8; 16 CFR 312; 34 CFT Pt 99; 47 CFR 54.520
IASB Reference: 605.08
SELECTION OF AI TOOLS
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools will be vetted by relevant stakeholders including, but not limited to, the district’s IT staff and, when related to student learning or assessment, by the curriculum director. Decisions to use AI tools should be focused on:
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY
Use of AI in research and graded work by students must include proper source citations. Copyright protections must be strictly adhered to. Students who fail to comply with these requirements may face discipline as stated in relevant district policies.
APPROPRIATE USE
Prior to using AI tools, classroom teachers will clearly state how AI tools may be used to engage in and complete educational tasks and assignments. Classroom teachers will establish appropriate parameters for AI tool usage and will monitor student use of AI tools as appropriate.
PROHIBITED USES
Students and staff will not use AI tools to access or create information that is discriminatory, constitutes bullying or harassment, shares confidential or personally identifiable information of others, or access/create material that is harmful to minors, obscene, or child pornography. Any violation of this regulation will be treated as a violation of relevant district policies and may be subject to loss of access to the AI tools, and further discipline.
Adopted: 8/24
Related Policy: 403.28; 603.16; 603.16-R2-R3; 703.1
IASB Reference: 605.08-R(1)
Click here to download the Policy 603.16-R2
| DEFINITIONS |
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI): Creates new content like text, images, audio, or code based data it’s been trained on. It’s like a creative machine (EX: ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot, etc.) Predictive Artificial Intelligence (PAI): Makes predictions based Algorithm: A set of instructions the AI follows to learn and generate content. Think of it as a recipe for creativity. Training Data: The information the AI learns from such as books, pictures, or code. It’s like giving the AI building blocks for its creations. Responsible Use: Using GenAI tools in a way that is ethical, legal, and respectful of others. Prompt/Prompting: User-generated instructions for a GenAI tool to |
| POTENTIAL USES IN THE CLASSROOM FOR STUDENTS |
Below are guidelines on how you might use AI for learning. Make sure to ask your teacher how much you are allowed to use AI, because it might be more than what has been outlined below. Note: If AI use is permitted, you must always complete the “finalizing stage” below. | |
| CONTINUUM OF USE WITH AI | PERMITTED USE | |
| No Use | GenAI may not be used for academic tasks in any form, and the use of such tools is strictly prohibited. | |
| Clarifying | GenAI may be used to gain clarity on academic content. | |
| Planning | GenAI may be used for the planning elements of academic tasks such as gaining inspiration, ideation, brainstorming, organizing, structuring, etc. | |
| Drafting | GenAI may be used for drafting the first version of work for an academic task. | |
| Revising | GenAI may be used to gain feedback for making improvements to the clarity or quality of work to improve the final product. | |
| Finalizing |
All submitted work by a student must either be original work or properly attributed to external sources, as stated by the academic Code of Conduct. This includes students acknowledging all instances in which GenAI tools were used in an academic task. Students should include the following language to attribute the use of AI: “I acknowledge the use of [Insert AI system(s) and link(s)] to [Explain specific use of GenAI]. The prompts used included [List of the prompts used]. The output from these prompts was used to [Explain use of output].” |
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| PROHIBITED USES |
GenAI tools may NOT be used in violation of terms of service, academic Code of Conduct, or board policy. Specific examples might include: *Academic Misconduct: Such as plagiarism and cheating. *Harm: Such as bullying, harassment, or other outputs that might be a detriment to the student’s physical or mental health, including the use of “deep fakes” for images, voice, text, or other likenesses. |
| STUDENT CONSEQUENCES | 1st Occurrence (No Definitive Proof) |
1st Violation |
2nd and Subsequent Violations |
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*Student is allowed to reassess or redo the assigned activity. *No penalty to the grade is applied. *Minor behavior referral is submitted to document the occurrence. |
*Student is allowed to reassess or redo the assigned activity. *Student may earn no more than a score of “2” of their earned score on the reassessment/redo. *Major behavior referral is submitted to document the occurrence. |
*Student is allowed to reassess or redo the assigned activity. *Student may earn no more than a score of “1” of their earned score on the reassessment/redo. *Major behavior referral is submitted to document the occurrence. |
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| REVIEW | The student guidelines for GenAI will be reviewed on an annual basis and updated as needed. |
| SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS |
Data Privacy & Security: Students should not input any personally identifiable information into any GenAI tools. Be Aware of Potential Bias: AI algorithms can reflect the biases present in the data they are trained on. Be critical of the outputs from GenAI tools as they are prone to generating made up information. |
Adopted: 4/25
Related Policy: 603.16; 603.16-R1, 603.16-R3
Click here to download Policy 603.16-R3
| DEFINITIONS |
Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI): Creates new content like text, images, audio, or code based data it’s been trained on. It’s like a creative machine (EX: ChatGPT, Gemini, CoPilot, etc.) Predictive Artificial Intelligence (PAI): Makes predictions based on patterns from historical data (EX: Grammarly, Google Doc word prediction, YouTube suggested videos, etc.) Algorithm: A set of instructions the AI follows to learn and generate content. Think of it as a recipe for creativity. Training Data: The information the AI learns from such as books, pictures, or code. It’s like giving the AI building blocks for its creations. Responsible Use: Using GenAI tools in a way that is ethical, legal, and respectful of others. Prompt/Prompting: User-generated instructions for a GenAI tool to use when creating a response. |
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POTENTIAL |
The Linn-Mar Community School District acknowledges the importance of responsible AI use, which varies across different school sites, classroom settings, positions, and departments. Staff will inform students if, when, and how AI tools may be used in learning using the common district student guidelines outlined below as a reference. Staff should inform students in a course syllabus, or prior to a learning experience, what permitted use of AI is acceptable for the course/task. | |
| CONTINUUM OF USE WITH AI | PERMITTED USE | |
| No Use | GenAI may not be used for academic tasks in any form, and the use of such tools is strictly prohibited. | |
| Clarifying | GenAI may be used to gain clarity on academic content. | |
| Planning | GenAI may be used for the planning elements of academic tasks such as gaining inspiration, ideation, brainstorming, organizing, structuring, etc. | |
| Drafting | GenAI may be used for drafting the first version of work for an academic task. | |
| Revising | GenAI may be used to gain feedback for making improvements to the clarity or quality of work to improve the final product. | |
| Finalizing |
All submitted work by a student must either be original work or properly attributed to external sources, as stated by the academic Code of Conduct. This includes students acknowledging all instances in which GenAI tools were used in an academic task. Students should include the following language to attribute the use of AI: “I acknowledge the use of [Insert AI system(s) and link(s)] to [Explain specific use of GenAI]. The prompts used included [List of the prompts used]. The output from these prompts was used to [Explain use of output].” |
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| The Linn-Mar Community School District recognizes staff may leverage GenAI to streamline workflows such as content development, assessment design, feedback, communications, etc. Staff are responsible for critically evaluating AI-generated content, acknowledging its use, and ensuring compliance with board policy; as well as local, state, and federal regulations related to GenAI in education. | ||
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PROHIBITED |
GenAI tools may NOT be used for the following purposes: *Supplant Core Curriculum: Staff should not use GenAI to create content that supplants the adopted core curriculum. *Supplant Staff Agency and Accountability: Staff should not use GenAI to supplant the role of human educators in instructing students. *Compromise Privacy/Security: Staff should not use GenAI in ways that compromise staff and/or student privacy/security. *Vetted GenAI: Staff should not use GenAI applications that have not been vetted by the district. |
| REVIEW | The staff guidelines for GenAI will be reviewed on an annual basis and updated as needed. |
| SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS | Be Aware of Potential Bias: AI algorithms can reflect the biases present in the data they are trained on. Be critical of the outputs from GenAI tools as they are prone to generating made up information. |
Adopted: 4/25
Related Policy: 603.16; 603.16-R1-R2