Modesto Schools Launch AI Guidelines and Parent Training Initiatives

Modesto City Schools (MCS) has unveiled new guidelines aimed at integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into classrooms, focusing on accuracy, ethics, and data privacy. Earlier this year, the district established a 20-member AI committee that includes students, staff, and parents to create clear policies for responsible AI usage across its schools.

MCS is notably the only district in Stanislaus County with such a dedicated AI committee. The group has produced a guidebook titled “Modesto City Schools AI Exploration: Navigating Our Digital Future,” along with brochures and posters intended for distribution at school sites. These materials highlight the importance of protecting student information, ensuring compliance with data privacy regulations, and establishing rules that prohibit staff from sharing personally identifiable information with AI platforms.

At a recent school board meeting, members unanimously approved the first reading of revisions to Board Policy and Administrative Regulations that now incorporate specific language regarding AI use. Fawn Peterson, chapter president of the California School Employees Association, emphasized the union’s primary concern that AI should not replace jobs, particularly in administrative roles or campus security. “The consensus is that AI should be a tool to lighten workloads, not to replace people,” Peterson stated.

Since the beginning of 2023, a total of 776 staff members, including one-third of the district’s teachers, have completed AI training. In a move to further engage families, the district plans to host AI training sessions for parents next month. These sessions will focus on how parents can support their children in utilizing the same AI tools that schools are adopting. Training for students on effective AI use in schoolwork is also expected to launch soon.

Matthew Ketchum, the district’s director of educational technology, provided an example of AI’s practical applications. He recalled a conversation with employees in Nutrition Services, where a staff member expressed difficulty explaining to a student why certain foods were off-limits due to allergies. Ketchum suggested that AI could generate a simple, engaging story tailored to the child’s interests—like Spider-Man—to explain dietary restrictions.

While many board members praised the district’s proactive approach in AI adoption, Board President Abel Maestas cautioned that MCS may already be lagging behind due to the rapid pace of technological advancements. “We think we’re ahead, and we’re not,” he remarked.

The district is implementing several AI tools, requiring staff to verify the accuracy, bias, and relevance of AI outputs before use. Staff are also instructed to avoid entering private student or staff information into AI systems. They are encouraged to follow the “80-20 rule,” allowing AI to handle 80 percent of a task while using 20 percent of their professional judgment for refinement. Furthermore, teachers are urged to leverage AI for personalized learning, differentiated instruction, and increased student engagement. Students may only use AI with explicit permission from a teacher or a parent/guardian. When conducting research, students must properly cite their sources, including AI tools, and are responsible for fact-checking AI-generated outputs. They are prohibited from sharing any personal or confidential information.

According to a district report, AI has the potential to save teachers an average of 5.9 hours weekly from their current workload of 37.4 hours, equating to an additional six weeks of time over the academic year. Additionally, AI platforms could reduce lesson planning and preparation time by seven to ten hours each week while also helping to alleviate teacher burnout. For students, personalized learning systems powered by AI have been shown to enhance educational outcomes by up to 30 percent compared to traditional methods.

Maestas, who also serves as an instructional coach with Ceres Unified School District, highlighted the need for schools to reassess their teaching methodologies as AI becomes more prevalent. He recounted his experience with students using Photomath, an app that employs AI to solve math equations. Instead of fixating on the app’s answers, he encouraged a student to articulate the reasoning behind each step. “He thought about it and told me what he thought,” Maestas reflected. “I said, ‘See that what you just did? That’s the math. Not what the computer did. The thinking that you had to do, that was math.’”

In September 2024, California enacted Senate Bill 1288, mandating the state superintendent to convene a working group on AI in public schools. MCS’s AI committee was modeled after this state structure. The state is anticipated to release AI guidance early next year, followed by model policies for districts in July, with final recommendations expected by January 2027. In October 2024, new legislation will integrate AI literacy into California’s K-12 curriculum, embedding AI concepts across subjects such as English language arts, math, science, and history. This will require districts to prepare for cross-disciplinary AI standards.

At the federal level, Presidential Executive Order 14277, signed in April, aims to promote AI education for youth. MCS’s AI committee plans to adapt to ongoing legislative developments, ensuring that the district remains at the forefront of AI integration in education.