Rocklin Unified trustees advance AI policy updates and pilot, seek clearer academic‑honesty language

Rocklin Unified School District trustees spent a large portion of their meeting reviewing proposed board policy updates to govern the district’s use of artificial intelligence and to approve a limited pilot of classroom AI tools.

Associate Superintendent Marty Flowers and Chief Technology Officer Ryan Johnson outlined revisions to employee and student technology policies to explicitly include AI, proposed a new academic‑honesty policy that references inappropriate AI use, and described a pilot using Magic School AI and Brisk intended to give teachers and students curated, school‑safe tools.

The pilot aims to give teachers time‑saving instructional tools, transparency into student use and the ability to curate which AI features students may access. "The amount of time it's given me back," teacher Craig Havlin said when demonstrating lesson‑planning and differentiation features during a classroom demo. Administrators stressed that tools for students would be filtered and curated rather than open internet tools.

Trustees probed several policy details, asking for clearer definitions of “inappropriate use” and whether the policy should list examples such as cheating, plagiarizing or passing off AI output as original work. Several trustees asked that the academic‑honesty policy explicitly cross‑reference the district’s student‑technology policy so families and staff see how the rules relate.

Board members also pressed administration on parent notification procedures if a student faces discipline related to AI use. Administration said teachers will retain discretion for classroom teachable moments and that parents would be contacted when an incident rises to the level of formal discipline; trustees asked that the policy language and related guidelines make that distinction explicit.

Equity and access were raised as practical concerns: trustees asked how the district will ensure students without home access to AI tools do not fall behind and how students with IEPs will be treated. Administration said the pilot will focus initially on upper elementary grades (4–6) for a limited rollout and that the district’s acceptable‑use and enrollment systems will be updated so teachers control which curated tools students use. Additional training, "ambassadors" to demo tools at sites, and communications for families were proposed as mitigation steps.

The board received the policies as an initial step and directed staff to return with clarified language and operational guidelines. Administration said the revised policies and the more detailed pilot plan will be brought back for board action at the Feb. 12 meeting, after district communications to families and pilot preparations.

Trustees did not take a final vote on the policy package at this meeting; administration emphasized the pilot will include evaluation metrics for teacher time savings and student learning impact and that the district would adjust tools and guidance based on feedback.