New K–12 AI Framework for School District and State Education Leaders

  • By Kate Lucariello
  • 03/12/24

Education strategy and policy consulting firm ILO Group has released a new "Framework for Implementing Artificial Intelligence in K–12 Education" to provide comprehensive information and resources to educators and state leaders on adopting AI technology.

The goal of all sections of the 31-page guide is to "emphasize the role of AI as a supportive tool, while ensuring that human direction, oversight, and quality assurance are maintained at all times," the company noted.

Part 1, "District-wide AI Areas of Consideration," includes several subsections:

  • Political – AI policy documents, community polls and surveys, fraudulent AI content, communication with student caregivers, the AI steering committee, and stakeholder feedback;
  • Operational — AI training, student AI access, the digital literacy curriculum, and AI implementation timeline;
  • Technical — technology audit, third-party vendor contracts, IT support, data integrity checks, and AI system performance; and
  • Fiscal — AI budgeting, and ROI analysis.

Part 2, "Department-Specific AI Applications," has two subsections:

  • Risk profiles for communication, bias and privacy, technology and operations, education and pedagogy, and legality and compliance; and
  • AI applications in specific areas — curriculum instruction, special education, student support services, family and community engagement, enrollment, human resources, facilities and operations, and IT and technology management.

ILO said its guide is a living document subject to change as new AI information and applications come online.

The guide can also be useful for state education leaders in supporting school districts, the company said. It is also working on a state-level AI guide to be released in the coming months.

"AI is reshaping education as we know it. This isn't about the future, it's about the now," said ILO CEO Julia Rafal-Baer, adding that the framework document has been "stress-tested with input from a national working group of state and district superintendents. Our goal is to empower leaders with the knowledge they need to make informed, impactful decisions that will shape the future of learning."

The full guide is openly available on the ILO Group site.

About the Author

Kate Lucariello is a former newspaper editor, EAST Lab high school teacher and college English teacher.

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