TUSD board approves revisions to AI policy

Tucson Unified School District students and teachers will have limited access to additional artificial intelligence tools after the governing board voted 3-2 to revise the district’s AI Use in Education Policy. The changes allow middle school students to use two district approved platforms, Code HS and Canva, while also updating the policy to account for newer forms of AI and tools built into other educational software. Public AI services such as ChatGPT remain blocked on TUSD devices and Wi-Fi.

The board approved the revisions at Tuesday night’s meeting after district officials said the policy, which has been in place for more than a year, needed to keep pace with rapidly changing technology. TUSD requires an annual review of its AI rules. The revisions had first been presented earlier this year, but the board’s initial consideration ended in a 2-2 split, requiring adjustments before the proposal could return for a second reading.

Tracey Metcalfe, TUSD’s senior director of educational technology and field support, presented the updated language. The first change adds “agentic AI” to the district’s definitions. Metcalfe described agentic AI as a newer type of artificial intelligence that can take actions or complete tasks in ways beyond earlier systems. It was not included in the original policy because the technology had not yet emerged, illustrating how quickly the field is developing.

The second revision expands access for middle school students, but only for Code HS and Canva. Code HS is used for coding instruction, while Canva supports graphic design and other creative work. District officials said the platforms are considered secure and allow TUSD to control what students can access and what they can do. Teachers also retain authority over whether students may use the tools and how the platforms are incorporated into classroom work.

The third change recognizes AI features embedded inside district software. These tools may not appear to students as standalone AI programs, but they are built into platforms used for learning or communication. One example discussed by Metcalfe was a voice recognition program that can learn from a student’s use and help students express themselves. For children who have difficulty speaking, the technology can generate or enhance communication in a way that allows them to participate more naturally. The policy permits this type of embedded tool for students ages 5 to 15.

The revised policy does not open the door to unrestricted generative AI. TUSD’s existing rules say AI may be used to support learning, improve teaching and assist with district operations, but students still cannot use public or generative AI services through district systems. Metcalfe said ChatGPT and similar services are blocked on district devices and the district’s wireless network. That restriction is intended to address concerns that students could use AI to write essays or otherwise submit work that does not reflect their own thinking.

Parents and teachers offered both support and criticism during a public comment period that ran from June 16 through August 6. Some families said students need opportunities to learn how to use AI responsibly and ethically, especially as the technology becomes more common in school and workplace settings. Other parents questioned whether AI belongs in education at all, particularly during the years when children are developing basic literacy, critical thinking, creativity and interpersonal skills.

TUSD parent Matthew Schmidgall argued that the policy appears to assume AI is generally beneficial as long as it is approved, monitored and secure. He said the district should first consider whether AI should be used during key stages of child and adolescent development. His concerns reflect a broader debate in Tucson schools over whether carefully controlled technology can supplement instruction without weakening direct interaction between students and teachers.

Jim Byrne, president of the Tucson Education Association, supported teaching students about AI in a controlled environment. He said the tools should supplement, rather than replace, the relationship between teachers and students, as well as students’ own thinking, creativity and work. Some board members also raised concerns about AI use, but ultimately concluded that the policy needed to be updated. Metcalfe said computer skills teachers had been asking for access to Code HS for more than a year and welcomed the board’s approval. Because the policy must be reviewed again next year, TUSD can be expected to revisit the rules as new technologies and classroom concerns emerge.