Leon County School Board Approves AI Policy for Education

News Summary

The Leon County School Board has enacted a policy regulating the use of artificial intelligence in educational settings. This policy aims to balance the integration of AI technology with the need for academic integrity and student data protection. While teachers can utilize AI tools for lesson planning, students will have limited access to AI chatbots. The policy also includes guidelines to prevent academic dishonesty, ensuring that AI serves as a supportive tool in the learning process.

Leon County, FL — On June 17, 2025, the Leon County School Board approved a new artificial intelligence policy aimed at regulating the use of AI in educational settings for both students and faculty. This decision responds to the increasing integration of AI technology into the learning environment, ensuring that students can benefit from these advancements while maintaining academic integrity and protecting their personal data.

Prior to this new policy, students had no access to AI chatbots within the school district’s networks or devices, although teachers were permitted to utilize AI tools for lesson planning purposes. The recently approved policy now allows district staff to explore various AI software options and prepare comprehensive training for teachers before the 2025-26 school year begins.

In conjunction with the AI policy, the school board also enacted a companion academic honesty policy. This policy aims to prevent students from misusing AI technology, specifically prohibiting them from using AI to “create content and then submit the content as one’s own.” Violators of this policy will face serious consequences, including the possibility of expulsion from the district.

Restrictive Guidelines on AI Usage

To ensure student safety and compliance, the usage of AI in the district will be confined to “closed systems.” This means that any AI software employed within the educational framework will not retain memories or learn from the material uploaded by users, addressing widespread concerns regarding student data protection. Mainstream chatbots, like ChatGPT, are explicitly excluded from this allowance due to their capacity to save information, raising significant privacy issues.

AI tools will only be permitted in classroom settings with explicit authorization from a teacher, and they cannot be employed as the primary method for completing school assignments. This limitation is designed to foster a genuine learning environment, promoting the idea that AI should serve as an aid rather than a replacement for students’ individual creativity and critical thinking skills.

Background and Development of the Policy

The discussion surrounding the necessity for an AI policy began on February 3, 2025, during a board retreat. Board member Darryl Jones initiated the conversation by voicing concerns regarding the potential for plagiarism, dissemination of false information, student data protection issues, and the overall challenges posed by navigating the unknowns of AI technology. These discussions revealed that clarity and structure were needed to guide both staff and students in the ethical use of AI in education.

The foundation of the new AI policy is rooted in the belief that technology can be a beneficial tool when used appropriately. While the policy encourages the incorporation of AI, it also establishes firm boundaries to ensure that the integrity of the educational process is upheld.

Next Steps in Implementation

Following its approval, the Leon County School Board plans to promote the new policy to the public to ensure awareness and understanding of the regulations among students, staff, and families. Final approvals will be sought to facilitate full implementation in the coming academic year.

The overarching goal of this AI policy is to provide a clear framework for how both students and teachers can effectively and ethically integrate artificial intelligence into their educational practices, equipping them with the necessary tools for success in a technology-driven future.

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Additional Resources

• Tallahassee.com: Leon County Schools Approve New AI Policy
• Tallahassee Reports: Leon County School Board Meeting Briefs
• Tallahassee.com: Leon Public Schools May Allow AI Usage
• Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence
• Google Search: Leon County Schools AI Policy