Hillsborough board reviews new ‘Emerging Technologies’ policy to set principles for AI use

The Hillsborough County School Board reviewed a draft policy titled “Emerging Technologies,” asking district staff to develop procedures for implementing principles that would govern use of artificial intelligence and other rapidly changing tools.

Board members discussed the policy at a March policy workshop, where district staff presented the draft and said it stems from a January board workshop on artificial intelligence. Miss Faucette, the staff presenter, said the policy is meant to be an umbrella, durable document and that implementation procedures would be developed after the board’s guidance. "This policy reflects our commitment to using emerging technology responsibly," Faucette said.

The draft lists six guiding principles: a human-centric belief that technology should support, not replace, human interactions; universal access across students and staff; responsible use with transparency and data-privacy safeguards; innovation and collaboration with external partners; professional learning for educators and staff; and future-ready skills for students. The draft directs the superintendent and staff to produce implementing procedures that align with those principles.

Board members asked staff to ensure procedures address specific operational concerns. Board Member Gray emphasized the need for procedures on plagiarism, curriculum integration, special populations (for example, English-language learners and exceptional student education), guidance-counselor roles and parental education. "Parents need to have a little bit more of an education," Gray said, urging that parental training be included in procedures. Board Member Dr. Hahn echoed that implementation details—training, orientation and communication—are distinct from policy and should be developed by staff.

Superintendent Van Ayers and staff told the board they will draft procedures if the board signals consensus on the policy’s principles. Board Member Vaughn said, unless members object, she would assume consensus to move the draft forward and asked staff to prepare procedures that include tools for academic-integrity checks and student acknowledgements upon submission.

Staff and board members also noted that the district added the term “artificial intelligence” into five existing policies for searchability so people searching the district’s policy manual can find relevant guidance. Those five policy edits were presented as terminology additions rather than substantive changes.

The board did not take a formal vote during the workshop; staff said they will proceed to draft implementation procedures and return with more detailed language for the board to review.