Guidance prepared for use of artificial intelligence in Apache Junction schools

The Apache Junction Unified School District Governing Board recently discussed districtwide guidance outlining the ethical, responsible and instructional use of generative artificial intelligence in education.

The guidance establishes clear expectations for how AI tools may be used to support teaching, learning and district operations, while reinforcing the importance of human judgment, academic integrity and student agency, it states in a release.

“Artificial intelligence is becoming part of everyday life,” Dr. Robert Pappalardo, AJUSD superintendent, said in the release. “Our job is to help students learn how to use these tools wisely, without losing the thinking, creativity, and guidance that matter most.”

The guidance emphasizes that AI is a tool to enhance learning, not a shortcut or substitute for original student work. Teachers retain authority over how and when AI may be used in assignments and assessments, and students remain accountable for demonstrating their own understanding and skills, it states.

Key components of the guidance include:

• Clear expectations for ethical and responsible AI use
• Protections for student privacy, safety and data security
• Alignment with academic integrity standards and copyright law
• Age-appropriate and equitable access to AI tools
• Transparency and disclosure when AI is used in learning activities

The guidance also introduces a framework to help students understand appropriate AI use across different learning tasks, reinforcing the role of AI as a support for thinking rather than a replacement for it, the release states.

More information about AJUSD’s guidance on the use of generative AI in education is available on the district website at www.ajusd.org/ai-guidelines.