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School committee approves 2025–26 student-family handbook with AI guidelines and updated opt-out language
Summary
The Rockport School Committee approved the 2025–26 student-family handbook, which includes updated acceptable-use rules, new AI guidelines and a revised curriculum opt-out section reflecting a July Supreme Court ruling; the vote was unanimous.
The Rockport School Committee voted unanimously to approve the 2025–26 student-family handbook after administrators highlighted several updates. Chair Amy Oakes asked for a motion to approve the handbook; the motion was moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.
Administrators said the handbook now incorporates an updated acceptable-use policy for digital resources and newly added AI guidelines together with a responsible-use agreement that students and parents will sign. Goodhue told the committee a curriculum opt-out section was revised following a July Supreme Court decision and that the language is limited to specific circumstances and requires principal approval. The handbook also includes updated human-sexuality opt-out notices and small compliance edits tied to revised state time-out rules (restraint policy was not changed). "One of the big changes is the acceptable use of digital resources... We also added the AI guidelines," Goodhue said.
The committee did not discuss any amendments before the vote; administrators said they will circulate policy memos and the final digital handbook with hyperlinks to staff and committee members.
