Student Procedures

Specific Authorized Uses

• Research Assistance: For efficiently searching and finding relevant information.
• Data Analysis: To analyze and interpret large datasets, adhering to authorized data sources and legal compliance.
• Language Translation: For translating texts or documents into different languages.
• Writing Assistance: For improving grammar, spelling, and overall writing quality.
• Accessibility: To assist students with disabilities in accordance with their Individualized Education Program (IEP) or 504 Plan.
• Simulation and Modeling: To simulate real-world scenarios or model complex systems for educational purposes.
• Content Personalization: For tailoring educational content based on individual student performance and learning styles.
• Peer Review and Collaboration: To facilitate structured peer review processes and enhance collaborative learning.

AI must be used in compliance with applicable laws and regulations regarding data security and privacy. Appropriate AI use should be guided by the specific parameters and objectives defined for an activity.² Below are some examples of prohibited uses of AI tools and measures to mitigate the associated risks.

Student Learning

• Bullying/harassment: Using AI tools to manipulate media to impersonate others for bullying, harassment, including sexual harassment, or any form of intimidation is strictly prohibited. All users are expected to employ these tools solely for educational purposes, upholding values of respect, inclusivity, and academic integrity at all times. Violations shall be addressed through applicable policy, including but not limited to Student Discipline Policy, Bullying Prohibition Policy, and Title IX Sex Nondiscrimination Policy.
• Overreliance: Dependence on AI tools can decrease human discretion and oversight. Important nuances and context can be overlooked and accepted. Teachers will clarify if, when, and how AI tools should be used in their classrooms, and teachers and students are expected to review outputs generated by AI before use.
• Plagiarism and cheating: Students should not copy from any source, including generative AI, without prior approval and adequate documentation. Students should not claim AI-generated work as their original work. Use of AI to complete assignments or other schoolwork without permission of a teacher or administrator is prohibited. Students will be taught how to properly cite or acknowledge the use of AI where applicable. Teachers will be clear about when and how AI tools may be used to complete assignments and restructure assignments to reduce opportunities for plagiarism by requiring personal context, original arguments, or original data collection. Existing procedures related to potential violations of our Academic Integrity Policy will continue to be applied.
• Unequal access: If an assignment permits the use of AI tools, the tools will be made available to all students, considering that some may already have access to such resources outside of school.

In recognition of the rapid advancement and integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP) technologies in educational and personal environments, the District is committed to ensuring that all digital interactions and content creation involving AI are conducted safely, ethically, and lawfully.

This procedure is linked with Board Policy 524: Internet, Technology, and Cell Phone Acceptable Use.

AI technologies can create challenges such as digital impersonation, content manipulation (e.g., deepfakes), and privacy concerns. These technologies include and are not limited to:

• Machine Learning focuses on algorithmic models that learn patterns from data. Ex. Netflix and Amazon predictions.
• Deep Learning is an AI method inspired by the human brain that uses large quantities of data with very little human input, a subset of machine learning that uses neural networks to learn and model complex data patterns. Ex. Autonomous vehicles, Siri and Alexa.
• Natural Language Processing or NLP allows computers to understand, interpret, and generate human language. Ex. Humanized chatbots and translation services.
• Large Language Models (LLMs), like ChatGPT, are a specific application of machine learning within the NLP domain, designed to handle and generate natural language text.

Evolving Technology Consideration

The field of AI/NLP is rapidly evolving. The district reserves the right to update this list of authorized uses and will provide guidance and training to staff to adapt to new educational applications of AI/NLP tools.

Prohibited Uses

Students shall not use AI technologies to:

• Create or distribute false or misleading content.
• Impersonate others. This includes what is referred to as deepfakes or synthetic media where a person’s likeness is digitally altered or replaced using advanced AI techniques.
• Manipulate academic or personal records.
• Share or expose any personally identifiable information (PII), including student, staff, or district information, to individuals who do not have explicit authorization or the necessary permissions to access such data.
• Produce or submit work that is not their own, including copying content without proper attribution or presenting AI-generated content as original work.

• Special Note: Deepfakes
  We wanted to take a moment to reach out and make you aware of a growing concern that is affecting schools and communities across the country. The issue relates to creating "deepfake" video and audio clips that can fabricate or misrepresent the comments of individuals, including district and school administrators, teachers, and staff.

  Deepfakes use AI technology to generate false, realistic-looking video and audio that can appear to show people saying or doing things they never actually did. This could include inappropriate, offensive, or threatening language created to mislead, cause harm, or damage trust.

  To the best of our knowledge, we have not experienced an incident like this in our district, so we wanted to ensure our community was aware of the issue. Suppose you ever come across a video or audio clip featuring a school or district staff member acting in a way that seems unusual, inappropriate, or out of character. In that case, we encourage you to pause before sharing it via social media. Instead, reach out to the district office directly so that we can investigate it properly.

  We want to be clear: anyone found responsible for creating a deepfake will face disciplinary action under district policy and may also face legal consequences.

  At Austin Public Schools, we remain committed to transparency and maintaining our students' and staff's safety and well-being. As always, thank you for your partnership in helping our schools remain safe, supportive, and positive learning environments. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact your child's school or the district office.
   

Educational Programs

The District will endeavor to provide educational programs to:

• Enhance understanding of AI technologies.
• Discuss their potential impacts.
• Address the ethical considerations necessary for their responsible use.

Enforcement

• Adherence to Board Policy: All members of the District are expected to comply with Board policy regarding the use of District digital tools and systems, including the use of artificial intelligence. 

Special Consideration: Advancing Academic Integrity

While it is necessary to address plagiarism and other risks to academic integrity, we will use AI to advance the fundamental values of academic integrity - honesty, trust, fairness, respect, and responsibility.⁴

• AI tools may allow users to quickly cross-reference information and claims, though they must still be critical of the output.
• Advanced AI tools can increase fairness by identifying and minimizing biases in grading and assessments.
• AI can adapt materials for students with different learning needs, showing respect for individual differences.

Additional Recommendations for Advancing Academic Integrity

• Teachers might allow the limited use of generative AI on specific assignments or parts of assignments and articulate why they do not allow its use in other assignments.
• Teachers will not solely use technologies that purport to identify the use of generative AI to detect cheating and plagiarism, as their accuracy is questionable.
• Use of an AI system must be disclosed and explained, including through appropriate citation. As part of the disclosure, students may choose to cite their use of an AI system using one of the following resources: 
  • MLA Style - Generative AI
  • APA Style - ChatGPT
  • Chicago Style - Generative AI
• Students and teachers will continue to uphold the standards of the Academic Integrity Policy. Using AI to generate answers or complete assignments without proper citation or passing of AI-generated content as one’s own is considered plagiarism.