Panel opts for 'digital tools' wording; SCORE urges explicit AI literacy guidance
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Summary
Committee agreed that references to technology and AI in standards should be captured under the broader term 'digital tools' and requested glossary language. Advocacy group SCORE urged the committee to add AI literacy competencies and to update policy language to reflect classroom uses of AI; the committee asked staff to consider SCORE's memo.
The committee reviewed a written memo from SCORE and discussed whether to call out artificial intelligence (AI) explicitly in the standards or to address AI under the broader heading of "digital tools." Committee members and Department of Education staff told the panel that AI is a fast‑moving category and that the safer, more durable wording is "digital tools," with a standards‑guide supplement and glossary that explain use cases — including AI — and acceptable classroom practices.
Why it matters: Committee members said educators need clear guidance on whether, when and how students may use AI to draft, research or revise text. Teacher feedback emphasized the need for both AI literacy (how to evaluate AI‑generated content) and policy clarity (what constitutes acceptable use and how to cite or attribute AI output).
What the committee decided - Wording: The panel approved using the phrase "digital tools" instead of repeatedly naming specific technologies or AI in the standards text. Members argued this wording better future‑proofs the standards and avoids premature specification of tools that will evolve. - Glossary and guide: Members directed staff to add a glossary definition for "digital tools" and to add guidance in the standards guide describing responsible uses of AI (for example, vetting output, avoiding plagiarism, and citing sources or AI‑assisted content appropriately). - SCORE recommendations: Committee members reviewed SCORE’s memo, which recommended establishing AI literacy competencies; aligning AI literacy within writing, media/digital literacy and research standards; and revising the technology‑use standard to include AI cases beyond drafting. Committee members asked staff to produce a short response and to consider SCORE’s concrete recommendations when drafting the standards‑guide language.
Next steps Standards staff will: - Add a glossary entry for "digital tools" and cross‑reference AI use cases and acceptable classroom practices in the standards guide. - Consider whether a discrete elective or a standard note on AI literacy should be proposed for later committee consideration.
Speakers - Patty (SCORE representative) — presented SCORE memo (public commenter) - Miss Singletary, Committee member (unknown) - Dr. Stout, Committee member / staff participant (unknown)
Clarifying details - SCORE memo highlights (summary): (1) define AI literacy competencies; (2) embed AI literacy inside writing, media/digital literacy and research standards; (3) revise technology‑use standard to capture AI and a broader range of use cases. - Committee decision: use "digital tools" in the standards text; add glossary and guidance about AI uses and citation.
Ending The committee did not enumerate a new AI standard, but it asked staff to draft glossary language for "digital tools," to build a short standards‑guide section on responsible AI use, and to return recommendations on whether a discrete AI‑literacy strand or elective is warranted.
