North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Releases Guidelines for Implementing AI in Schools

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Releases Guidelines for Implementing AI in Schools

FARGO — As schools across North Dakota grapple with the integration of artificial intelligence into their classrooms, the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction (NDDPI) has stepped in to provide much-needed guidance. On Monday, July 8, the NDDPI released a comprehensive set of guidelines aimed at helping districts navigate the rise of AI in education.

The guidelines, developed over an eight-month period in collaboration with educators and stakeholders from across the state, offer resources and roadmaps for developing classroom policies and implementing AI tools in day-to-day school operations.

Kelsie Seiler, Staff Officer at the NDDPI Office of School Approval and Opportunity, emphasized the importance of having a clear plan for implementing AI in schools. “What are we going to do today to implement AI in our school systems? How are we going to implement AI tools next week? What are we going to do to implement AI tools next month?” Seiler said.

The guidelines cover a wide range of topics, from defining key terms and providing links to online resources, to offering a historical overview of AI and grade-level specific recommendations. For example, kindergartners through second graders are taught that AI is not a real person, while high school students focus on understanding how AI works and its limitations.

One of the key features of the guidelines is an implementation roadmap and checklist for individuals in different roles within the education system. This includes considerations for administrators on how AI can streamline mundane tasks and the importance of evaluating AI tools for ethical issues.

Steve Snow, also with the NDDPI Office of School Approval and Opportunity, highlighted the need for schools to address ethical concerns when implementing AI. “AI uses a lot of internet stuff so what do we do with FERPA, which is the restriction on student data, are we compliant with HIPAA, do we have policies in place kind of from that realm as well?” Snow said.

Dr. Rupak Gandhi, Superintendent of Fargo Public Schools, emphasized the importance of focusing on behaviors rather than specific policies for AI. “We don’t have a policy on Google, or searching, or using an internet search engine, but we do have a policy on misportraying information as your own. And it would work the same way with artificial intelligence,” Gandhi said.

Gandhi, who is familiar with the topic, expressed excitement about the implementation checklist and its potential impact on schools statewide. “That kind of just tells you over time how will AI continue to play in education, how it will continue to evolve? But different things you can make sure you’re checking to ensure you are using it in a safe way and an ethical manner,” Gandhi said.

As technology continues to evolve, Snow mentioned that the guidelines will be updated to reflect these changes. The full guidelines can be found on the NDDPI website at www.nd.gov/dpi/policyguidelines/north-dakota-k-12-ai-guidance-framework.