BPS AI Policy: Ban Non-School Use, Stop Deepfake Bullying

Boston Public Schools Proposes Comprehensive AI Policy to Navigate Emerging Technologies

Boston Public Schools (BPS) is taking a proactive stance on the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence (AI) within educational settings. The district has unveiled a new policy designed to address the emerging challenges and opportunities presented by AI, with a particular focus on classroom use, technological literacy, and safeguarding students from potential harms like deepfakes.

The core principle guiding this policy, as articulated by BPS Chief Technology Officer Lisa Irey, is that "AI must serve our values, not define them." This foundational idea emphasizes the district's commitment to ensuring that AI technologies enhance, rather than dictate, the educational experience. Irey further stressed the importance of protecting student privacy, clearly communicating the benefits of AI, and equipping students with the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate an increasingly AI-driven future. The goal is not to mandate AI usage, but to foster a community-wide understanding that allows individuals to recognize, question, and make informed decisions about AI tools.

This proposed AI policy is an evolution of earlier guidance issued by BPS in 2023 and updated in 2025. It incorporates valuable feedback gathered from over 500 stakeholders, including educators, students, parents, and community partners, according to district officials. Superintendent Mary Skipper highlighted that the policy aims to provide "healthy guardrails" that the BPS community has been actively seeking. Key components include detailed guidelines for AI use, robust student safety protocols and protections, clear expectations for academic integrity, and mandated AI training and literacy requirements. Recognizing the swift pace of technological advancement, the policy also includes provisions for regular updates to remain relevant and effective.

The unveiling of this policy follows a significant announcement by Mayor Michelle Wu in March, positioning Boston as the first public school district in the nation to commit to ensuring AI fluency among its students. This commitment will be realized through a targeted curriculum set to be implemented across high schools beginning in the upcoming academic year.

The proposed policy outlines a stringent framework for AI integration, establishing a wide range of prohibitions and requirements. A critical element is a thorough vetting process for any AI tools considered for approval within BPS. Furthermore, the policy strictly prohibits the input of any student data into unapproved AI resources. A significant restriction is the ban on using AI as the "sole basis" for grading, disciplinary actions, or academic evaluations.

The policy explicitly states that the use of AI to "harm, harass, or damage the reputation of others is strictly prohibited" for all members of the BPS community. This includes the creation and dissemination of deepfakes and other forms of digitally manipulated content designed to mislead or cause harm.

Specifically, students and staff are forbidden from generating any AI-created audio, video, or images that depict real individuals without their explicit consent. This prohibition also extends to content that portrays harmful, threatening, violent, or inappropriate subject matter.

In instances where deepfakes or other forms of digitally manipulated content are identified, school officials are obligated to report the incident, cease its distribution, provide support to affected students, and adhere to the district's code of conduct and all relevant legal requirements.

Conversely, the policy also delineates acceptable uses of AI tools within schools. These permissible applications are generally limited to specific, narrow cases and require explicit direction and supervision from teachers.

For families, the policy mandates access to "district-provided resources or training to build understanding of AI tools and their appropriate use." This aims to empower parents and guardians with the knowledge to support their children's engagement with AI in a safe and informed manner.

During Wednesday's School Committee meeting, members engaged in extensive discussions, posing critical questions about the policy's implementation and oversight. Key concerns included how the effectiveness of the new guidelines would be measured, and how equity would be ensured for diverse student populations, including multilingual learners and those with limited access to technological resources.

Superintendent Skipper acknowledged the dynamic nature of AI, stating, "This is something that’s going to come before you — different than other policies that may be on a three-year cycle or a five-year cycle — this is likely one that’s going to come more often, just because of how rapid the technology itself is changing." She emphasized the necessity of "having deeper conversations" as the policy is rolled out and refined.

BPS officials indicated that the district will continue to solicit feedback on the policy in the coming months. Lisa Irey noted, "We’re refining the policy before bringing it back to you this June. Over the summer, we’re going to act on what we heard. We’re going to be launching new resources for students, staff and families, so that as a city, we build a shared language of understanding around responsible AI. It seems like every week we’re seeing new platforms, new use cases, and this is just the beginning."

The School Committee is slated to vote on the AI policy in June.

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