Board reviews first draft AI policy requiring staff training, student safeguards and academic‑honesty rules

Eastern York School District presented a first‑read draft artificial‑intelligence policy that organizes rules and training expectations for staff and students and instructs administration to establish vetting procedures for AI platforms.

The draft policy, developed with a steering committee of parents, teachers and administrators, lists federal privacy and civil‑rights laws as authorities (FERPA, IDEA, ADA, COPPA and the Children's Internet Protection Act) and lays out seven guiding principles including purpose, compliance, balance, integrity and ongoing evaluation. The policy assigns the district responsibility for staff professional development in ethical use, limitations, verification and critical analysis of AI outputs, and it provides an academic‑honesty framework so teachers can explain permitted and prohibited uses to students.

What the draft does and next steps The policy would require administrators to vet new classroom AI platforms before districtwide use, to provide staff training over the summer and to introduce a limited set of vetted tools to students. The board agreed to move the draft forward as a first reading; administration will circulate the draft to the steering‑committee members for the promised follow‑up review and refine parent‑education plans to explain the district's approach and any required permissions.

Quotes and context - "The district shall provide staff with professional development around ethical limitations and critical analysis," the draft says (policy section read by staff). The presenter said staff already have received introductory training and that the district will expand training this summer.

Ending The board authorized placing the policy on the agenda for a first reading at next Tuesday's meeting and asked administration to return with revised language if committee members suggest edits.