Franklin Community Schools proposes three-year AI pilot to teach AI literacy

Franklin Community School Corporation staff presented a proposed three-year AI literacy pilot with SchoolAI during the Nov. 10 board meeting, saying the district will begin Year One (2025–26) with teacher engagement and policy refinements around student data and usage.

The presentation described pilot funding from non-taxpayer 'Employer of Choice' resources at $6.00 per student and proposed stipends for participating faculty — approximately $450 for teachers who participate in professional development. "Teaching AI literacy is imperative to developing empowered learners and citizens. Knowing when and how to use AI transforms students into versatile problem-solvers and promotes critical thinking," the presentation materials stated.

Year One priorities include forming a teacher leadership team with representation from every building, refining procedures related to student data, and piloting SchoolAI tools for classroom use. The materials said Year Two would focus on student engagement and parent outreach, and Year Three on districtwide implementation. The presentation also noted the pilot could position the district to apply for an IDOE Digital Literacy Grant in 2026.

District staff warned that implementation would require training and clarified that student data and privacy procedures would be refined before broad rollout. Presented materials named SchoolAI as the pilot partner and listed potential classroom benefits, including formative data analysis and supports for multilingual learners and students with disabilities.

The slide presentation was presented to the board for review; no formal board vote on the pilot was recorded in the meeting transcript.