OCDE presents AI framework for educators emphasizing ethics, literacy and workforce preparedness
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Summary
OCDE staff offered an update on an AI framework aligned to the department strategic plan, describing three domains and an educator-centered "AI wisdom" strand; trustees asked about bias and student safety and staff described vetting and monitoring practices.
Orange County Department of Education curriculum staff presented an update on work to integrate artificial intelligence into instruction and workforce-preparation supports, describing a three-domain framework staff say aligns with the department strategic initiative plan.
Jonathan Swanson, Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Academic Enrichment, and Wes Kreisel, AI Education Lead, told trustees that the AI framework rests on three domains: ethical integration, innovation and learning, and workforce preparedness. Within ethical integration, Swanson said OCDE is prioritizing "AI wisdom" for educators and identified three guiding questions—efficiency ("does AI help me do my job better/faster?"), engagement ("does AI help me improve relationships with colleagues or students?") and empowerment ("do I know when to use AI and when not to?").
Wes Kreisel tied the initiative to the department's 5-3-1 strategic initiative and cited an outside report to emphasize workforce relevance: he referenced the Microsoft/LinkedIn 2024 Work Trend Index finding that 71% of leaders prefer hiring candidates with AI skills. Kreisel described practical pillars for implementation: educator professional learning, student AI literacy and district-level policy guidance and communications.
Trustees raised ethical concerns. A trustee asked about model bias and whether staff address differences between platforms; Swanson said OCDE advises districts to vet tools and educate staff and students about platform differences. Another trustee asked how the framework would address reports of AI-related harms in the community, citing news reports about suicidal ideation tied to AI conversation partners. Staff said their vetting expects vendors to support data-privacy safeguards and encouraged districts to adopt "walled garden" deployments that allow administrators to view prompts and monitor for red-flag language; staff also emphasized AI literacy lessons for students.
Swanson and Kreisel said OCDE will offer certification pathways for educators, convenings for districts, and supports to help districts evaluate vendors' return on investment. Trustees thanked staff for the update and asked for follow-up about bias mitigation and safety protocols as OCDE moves from planning to local implementation.