Purpose and Scope for AI Guidance

These guidelines apply to all use of artificial intelligence:

• On any district-owned devices, networks or software platforms.
• For the completion of any school-related work, assignments or professional duties, regardless of the location or device used.
• By all district employees students, and authorized volunteers or partners.

This framework is designed not as a static list of rules but as a foundation for building a district-wide culture of responsible innovation, ethical use and digital citizenship in the age of AI.

Human-Centered and Student-Centered

AI will be implemented in ways that prioritize and enhance human interaction, connection and well-being. It is a tool to support educators and learners, not to supplant the essential relationships that form the core of the educational experience. All decisions regarding the adoption and use of AI tools will be evaluated based on their potential to benefit student learning, engagement and development.

Equity and Accessibility

The district is committed to ensuring that the integration of AI closes, rather than widens, existing opportunity and achievement gaps. We will work to provide all students with equitable access to the appropriate AI technologies and the AI literacy skills necessary to use them effectively. 

Ethics and Integrity

All members of our school community are expected to use AI tools with honesty, integrity and respect for others. This principle encompasses upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, respecting intellectual property rights and explicitly forbidding the use of AI to plagiarize, cheat or create harmful, harassing or discriminatory content.

Transparency and Accountability

Transparency is crucial for building trust. The district will be open about how AI systems are used for instructional and administrative purposes. Likewise, staff and students are expected to be transparent about their use of AI. Users are ultimately accountable for any content they create or submit with the assistance of AI, including its accuracy and potential biases. Disclosure of AI use is a key component of this accountability. 

Data Privacy and Security

The protection of student and staff data is a non-negotiable priority. All use of AI must strictly comply with federal and state privacy laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the Children's Internet Protection Act (CIPA), as well as all district data governance policies. The entry of any personally identifiable information (PII) or other confidential data into unapproved AI systems is strictly prohibited.

Fostering Innovation and Critical Inquiry

We encourage the responsible exploration of AI as a tool to foster creativity, enhance problem-solving and deepen learning. Our goal is not to stifle curiosity but to cultivate a community of discerning and critical users. Staff and students will be taught to critically evaluate AI-generated content for accuracy, relevance and bias, using it as a starting point for inquiry, not an endpoint for thinking.

AI Detectors

In alignment with the "Rockwood Promise," where we honor the dignity of all, the Rockwood School District does not support the use of AI-writing detectors as part of any disciplinary or grading process as these detectors are considered to be unreliable, easily defeated by other online tools and are often biased against English-language learners. 

The use of plagiarism detectors is still an accepted practice as they have a greater degree of reliability.