New AI rules, and a consent form every September

What happened

The board adopted its first policy on generative artificial intelligence on June 22, 2026, more than a year after students began asking for one. The policy itself sets few rules; it requires the superintendent to write an AI plan containing thirteen specified things, including which grades may use AI, when a teacher may allow it, a requirement that teachers say at the time they set the work what is allowed, how AI content must be cited, a list of prohibited uses, a list of approved platforms that must not retain student data or use student work to train models, due process for a student accused of misusing it, and annual staff training. It also requires the district to inform parents and obtain parental consent at the start of each school year before a student may use AI for assignments. The plan itself was to be drafted over the summer for a September start and is not published among these records.

Why it matters to families

Families should expect a consent form each September and can decline it. Until the plan is published, the policy does not tell a parent what their child may actually do, or what happens if a teacher suspects AI was used. Students had told the board in November 2025 that whole classes were being punished for one student's AI use and that some grades appeared to be AI-generated and did not match the rubric, and in December 2025 that a teacher said openly he uses AI to grade and to build assignments. Separately, the district has told the board it used an artificial-intelligence powered system to help reassign Garfield's 113 children to new schools.

The evidence

Policy 2365, acceptable use of generative artificial intelligence, is marked adopted June 22, 2026 and contains the thirteen required elements of the AI plan, including the annual parental consent requirement, the approved-platform conditions on data retention and model training, and the annual staff training requirement. The May 13, 2026 recording records the first reading and the plan being promised for August. The June 22, 2026 recording records adoption on second reading. The November 24 and December 22, 2025 recordings contain the student reports on group punishments, AI-generated grades and a teacher's use of AI. The August 19, 2026 recording records the superintendent thanking the board for approving the artificial-intelligence powered system used in the Garfield reassignment.

The source