USDB committee approves artificial‑intelligence use policy after detailed privacy and equity debate

The Utah Schools for the Deaf and the Blind (USDB) standing committee voted to approve an artificial‑intelligence (AI) use policy that establishes acceptable classroom uses, data‑handling expectations and an oversight committee to evaluate AI tools for privacy and academic‑integrity risks.

Committee members discussed privacy, equity and how to teach students to use AI responsibly before voting to approve the policy as amended.

Dr. Michelle Tanner, USDB associate superintendent of the deaf, framed the discussion around opportunities and risks from generative AI. “There is inherently bias,” Tanner said, giving examples of how AI can respond inconsistently to political prompts and stressing that students must learn to be “an informed consumer of AI technology.”

The policy the committee approved includes: a set of AI guiding principles; an oversight committee to evaluate tools for privacy compliance, academic integrity risks and data‑security protocols; prohibitions on inputting personally identifiable information (PII) into third‑party tools; and a requirement that explicit written parental consent be obtained when an AI tool processes student data beyond basic directory information.

Members amended several policy phrases during discussion. One member proposed replacing language about "equity" with "opportunity"; the committee approved that substitution. Another amendment narrowed the oversight committee’s stated responsibilities; the approved text describes the committee as comprised of a USDB administrator, an educational‑technology specialist and the information‑technology director and charges that group with evaluating tools for privacy, academic‑integrity and data‑security concerns and applying the policy’s guiding principles.

Committee members stressed teaching and transparency: the policy requires teachers to tell students when AI is permitted, to train students in citation and usage practices, and to ensure students remain responsible for original work. During debate, members discussed how faculty should require students to document how they used AI, including the prompts they entered, when appropriate.

The motion to approve the policy as amended passed unanimously; the committee forwarded the policy on first reading to the Utah State Board of Education for final approval.

Next steps: USDB staff will update staff training, privacy notices and procedures to implement the policy and will convene the oversight committee to review AI tools as needed, particularly when new applications are proposed for classroom use.