State Guidance for Understanding Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Schools: Washington
Overview
Several State Departments of Education have published guides for understanding issues around AI in education, including privacy, security, transparency, accessibility, and keeping humans at the center of learning. These and related resources are being curated on the #GoOpen Hub and are freely available and openly licensed.
Introduction
The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education starts with the fundamental understanding that AI is not a replacement for human intelligence or humanitarian presence in education. According to UNESCO, AI in education is expected to be a $6 billion worldwide industry in 20241 with estimates of growth reaching $19.9 billion by 20282. LinkedIn’s Economic Graph Research Institute estimates that, by 2030, the skill sets needed for jobs will change by 65%, affecting not just tech, but all industries. Corporate entities are moving fast to meet the need and demand for products that streamline the delivery of education, but not all products are the same. It is the responsibility of the education community to carefully and strategically understand how these products work, what data is collected, and where information is sourced.
While AI is an emerging innovation in education, Local Education Agencies (LEAs) can utilize and build on existing policies that are based on educational integrity, student safety, and proven instructional practices. In conversation, AI tools are often discussed as a holistic, outside influence on education, yet policy regarding AI should not be separately written. Key facets of these tools already apply to concerns such as student data privacy, plagiarism, cyberbullying, and digital literacy, and can be called out within existing and corresponding policies.