Artificial Intelligence at Downey Unified

AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to computer tools that can analyze information, answer questions, or help complete tasks. Our district uses AI to support teaching and learning, improve efficiency for staff, and provide students with tools that make learning more engaging, not to replace teachers.

When used responsibly, AI supports, but does not replace professional judgment and human connection in education.

We carefully select AI tools that meet strict student data privacy laws such as COPPA, FERPA, and state privacy requirements. Students only use district‑approved platforms that protect their personal information and do not allow public interaction with strangers.

We carefully select AI tools that meet strict student data privacy laws such as COPPA, FERPA, and state privacy requirements. Students only use district‑approved platforms that protect their personal information and do not allow public interaction with strangers.

AI (Artificial Intelligence) refers to computer tools that can analyze information, answer questions, or help complete tasks. Our district uses AI to support teaching and learning, improve efficiency for staff, and provide students with tools that make learning more engaging, not to replace teachers.

When used responsibly, AI supports, but does not replace professional judgment and human connection in education.

The CDE provides progressions for students in grades K-12, moving from simple identification of features and capabilities of AI to the creation and design of complex, critical AI applications and models. Included in these progressions is the evolving evaluation of outputs and exploration of ethical impact:

TK–2 – Notice & Name: Help students recognize what AI is and where they see it in everyday life (e.g., Siri, YouTube suggestions). Support them in understanding the difference between technology tools and human thinking.

Grades 3–5 -Interact & Question: Allow students to safely use age-appropriate AI tools (like voice assistants) while teaching them how information is collected and used. Encourage students to ask questions about how AI gets its answers.

Grades 6–8 -Experiment & Think Critically: Introduce basic ideas about how AI learns from patterns in data. Guide students in identifying patterns and discussing how AI responses can sometimes reflect bias or inaccuracies.

Grades 9–12 -Create & Evaluate: Teach students how to effectively use AI tools , understand privacy and data considerations, and critically evaluate or design AI systems with ethics and fairness in mind.

Ongoing professional development and training in AI literacy should be available to all district employees, including teachers, support staff, and administrators. The district must provide resources to ensure all staff are equipped to use AI responsibly, efficiently, and confidently in their roles. This includes access and training on AI tools tailored to various roles, from classified, certificated, and management, ensuring that AI adoption enhances the professional capacity of all Employees.

All students will receive instruction in digital citizenship skills during Digital Citizenship Week each October. This training will include age-appropriate learning on AI, including how AI works, responsible use, privacy protections, academic integrity, and recognizing bias or misinformation.

Just as academic integrity guides student use of AI, professional integrity guides how employees use AI in their work. All staff members are responsible for the accuracy, completeness, and appropriateness of AI-assisted work products. AI-generated content used must be reviewed and verified by the responsible employee before distribution. Additionally, employees should disclose AI assistance when producing work that will be used in consequential decision-making.

No. Teachers may not upload student work to AI tools for grading/feedback—even if de‑identified—unless it’s a district‑approved platform or designated district‑level AI system vetted for privacy (e.g., specified formative tools). Assessment remains a human‑guided process aligned to district standards and rubrics.

 AI is considered cheating when:

• It replaces original thinking on assignments meant to measure individual learning

• It is used without teacher permission

• It is used without required citation or acknowledgment

Teachers provide clear guidelines on when AI is allowed and when it is not. Lessons include digital citizenship, academic honesty, and understanding that AI can make mistakes.

Additionally, AI tools can make classrooms more accessible and inclusive when used in to differentiate. Features like speech-to-text, captioning, transcription, and language translation help students with disabilities and multilingual learners fully participate. AI can generate personalized learning materials, such as worksheets, quizzes, and reading assignments, aligned with students’ learning goals, strengths, and interests.

Parents can:

• Ask children what tools they use at school
• Encourage them to think critically about AI answers
• Remind them never to share personal information online
• Use district‑approved tools rather than public AI platforms

We also provide parent workshops and resources throughout the year.

Acceptable tools include but are not limited to Microsoft Copilot, Padlet, Canva, Adobe. As more tools embed AI into their ecosystem, it is essential that staff and educators use those tools that have been vetted for security, privacy, accessibility, and procurement compliance. Using unvetted tools can expose student and staff data, create legal risk through unfavorable terms of service, and undermine high-quality instructional materials and practices. Centralizing tool use also enables proper auditing, support, professional development, and equity of access across schools and classrooms.

 Protecting student and employee data is a priority for Downey Unified. In conformity with federal, state, and district policies and regulations, Downey Unified executes the following steps to protect and support privacy:

• Inform students, parents, and staff about how AI tools use data and obtain explicit consent when necessary.
• Provide educators and staff with professional development on data privacy, secure AI use, and the identification of potential breaches. 
• Utilize encrypted systems and multi-factor authentication security verification systems.
• Implement regular security audits to protect digital infrastructure.
• Establish clear data governance protocols for AI systems that process employee records, financial data, vendor information, and operational workflows.

No. Teachers should only access AI via district devices and district accounts for all work‑related use

AI can hallucinate, fabricate citations, or omit critical context. Output should be verified with vetted curriculum resources, primary sources, and authoritative references before being used in instruction, communication, etc. URLs, images, infographics, and diagrams must be verified with independent sources. AI-generated figures, dates, legal references, policy citations, financial data, etc. must be verified against official district records and authoritative sources before inclusion in any district document or decision-making process.