Local school districts must still create their own artificial intelligence policies, but the state is encouraging districts to find ways to embrace AI in the classroom and teach students how to use it ethically.
"The WDE is committed to leading the state in AI education and preparing the next generation of learners and leaders for a future that is built with, and alongside AI," reads the guidance resource put out by the state.
The guidance states that artificial intelligence may be able to free up teachers for more instructional time and more innovation.
The manual outlines clear definitions of artificial intelligence, including "Generative AI is permeated with flaws such as algorithmic bias that must be considered when utilized. Generative AI is not a source of unquestionable, factual information."
The department recommends that AI policies be cyclical and developed as needed.
Using AI tools ethically and responsibly to help students achieve educational goals, promoting AI literacy and maintaining human decision-making when using AI are some of the guiding principles the department says that districts should use when writing policies.
As part of the guidance manual, the department includes a continuum of AI usage to guide schools on how to integrate AI. The categories for AI usage are AI-free, AI-assisted, AI-enhanced and AI-empowered.
Each category has increasing usage of artificial intelligence. When working on an AI-free assignment, work must be completed without artificial intelligence in any capacity. The use of artificial intelligence on these projects would be a violation of academic integrity.
The AI-empowered category is for full integration of AI to create products that were not previously possible. Students are still responsible for oversight, accuracy and fairness.
The guidance also tells districts that they may need to adjust already existing policies to keep up with artificial intelligence.
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