Petaluma City Schools Drafts Tiered AI Plan for Student Use
Petaluma City Schools in California is drafting a tiered plan for student use of artificial intelligence, aiming to balance educational benefits with potential dangers. The proposed policy, developed by the district's Technology and Innovation Committee, outlines specific guidelines for different grade levels. AI use would be prohibited for students in kindergarten through second grade. Third to fifth graders would receive a basic introduction to AI concepts without direct access to student-facing tools. Students in grades six to eight would learn about responsible AI use and ethics within closed, school-focused AI environments. High school students (grades nine to twelve) would have more guided use of AI, with teacher discretion, utilizing tools like Canva and Gemini. The draft emphasizes human oversight, protection of student data and privacy, and increased AI literacy for both students and staff.
