Massachusetts Guidance for Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education

A comprehensive framework for Massachusetts school districts to navigate the ethical, legal, and instructional integration of artificial intelligence in K-12 education.

Massachusetts Guidance for Artificial Intelligence in K–12 Education M A S S A C H U S E T T S G U I D A N C E F O R A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E I N K – 1 2 E D U C AT I O N Welcome and Acknowledgements Massachusetts Guidance for Artificial Intelligence in K-12 Education is designed to support district leaders in creating and refining implementation guidance as well as creating or refining AI-related policies. Grounded in the Commonwealth’s educational vision1, it offers a foundation for developing local guidance and policies while training educators, responsibly integrating AI tools, strengthening AI literacy and building adaptive systems that evolve with emerging technologies. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Offices of Education Technology (OET) and Digital Literacy and Computer Science as well as our AI Task Force partnered with ISTE+ASCD to develop this guide for district leaders in Massachusetts. We extend our gratitude to the AI Task Force members for bringing their knowledge, perspective, and needs to the development process. DESE TEAM MEMBERS Andréa Coté, CETL, Assistant Director of EdTech Jackie Gantzer, Director of EdTech and School Support Alva Laster, Digital Literacy and Computer Science Program Coordinator Paula Moore, Digital Literacy and Computer Science Content Lead Greg Kulowiec, AI Consultant AI TASK FORCE MEMBERS Kate Carbone, Salem Public Schools Joe Kidd, Norwood Public Schools Chris Parker, Gateway Regional Ruiz Clark, Brookline Public Schools Kate Kinsman, Landmark School Kate Olender, Lenox Public Schools Brad Crozier, Sudbury Public Schools Heather Leonard, Manchester Essex Regional Elena Schuck, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional Rayna Freedman, Mansfield Public Schools Sonia Mitchell, Springfield Public Schools Allen Wang, KIPP Academy Charter School Haruna Hosokawa, Boston Public Schools Jennifer Mullin, Nauset Public Schools We appreciate the valuable feedback provided by additional DESE team members and educators representing organizations from across Massachusetts. Furthermore, we thank Alan Coverstone and Tara Nattrass for leading us through the drafting and development of this resource. Together, we are moving forward to support safe, ethical, and equitable integration of AI in education focused on enhanced educational outcomes and opportunities for all students across Massachusetts. 1 Johnston, R. D. (2024). Overview of DESE’s educational vision & catalog of aligned supports. Retrieved April 9, 2025, from https://www.doe. mass.edu/commissioner/vision/vision-supports.pdf ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 2 M A S S A C H U S E T T S G U I D A N C E F O R A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E I N K – 1 2 E D U C AT I O N Contents Overview Document At A Glance 4 Guidance Foundations Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Education 6 Principles for Ethical AI Use 10 Implementation Using this Document: Organizing for Action 14 Implementation Framework for Schools and Districts 19 AI-Integration Equity and AI: Addressing Harmful Bias and Access 24 Legal Foundations for AI Use 29 AI Literacy: Teaching about AI 35 AI Literacy: Teaching with AI 42 Academic Integrity 49 District Operations 55 Conclusion 61 Supplemental Checklists and Tools Appendix: District AI Integration Potential Actions Checklists 63 Supplemental Resources Citations 73 This document is intended to support districts that choose to explore or implement AI in their schools. The Department is not recommending or requiring the use of AI in schools—those decisions remain with local leaders. Rather, this guidance is designed to help districts that opt to move forward with AI develop thoughtful, responsible, and equitable approaches. Grounded in the Commonwealth’s educational vision, it offers a foundation for local policy development, educator training, AI literacy, and the creation of adaptive systems that evolve alongside emerging technologies. CONTENTS 3 M A S S A C H U S E T T S G U I D A N C E F O R A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E I N K – 1 2 E D U C AT I O N Document At A Glance SECTION WHAT’S IN THIS SECTION 1. Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Education Provides definitions of AI types and discusses their relevance in educational settings including current landscape considerations. 2. Principles for Ethical AI Use Introduces five core principles for ethical AI use and offers guidance for applying them in decision- making. 3. Using this Document: Organizing for Action Explains how to use the guidance document effectively, emphasizing alignment with district priorities and long-term change processes. 4. Implementation Framework for Schools and Districts Offers a structured framework to guide phased AI implementation and leadership team formation. 5. Equity and AI: Addressing Harmful Bias and Access Discusses strategies for ensuring equitable access, addressing bias, and promoting inclusivity in AI use. 6. Legal Foundations for AI Use Highlights key legal considerations for AI implementation, including privacy, accessibility, and compliance with state and federal laws. 7. AI Literacy: Teaching ABOUT AI Outlines competencies for understanding and critically engaging with AI across all educational roles. 8. AI Literacy: Teaching WITH AI Provides strategies for using AI tools in teaching and learning to enhance engagement and creativity. 9. Academic Integrity Focuses on maintaining integrity in academic work including considerations around authorship, citation, and ethical AI use. 10. District Operations Addresses the integration of AI into district operations such as budgeting, staffing, and resource management. DOCUMENT AT A GLANCE 4 M A S S A C H U S E T T S G U I D A N C E F O R A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E I N K – 1 2 E D U C AT I O N SECTION Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Education M A S S A C H U S E T T S G U I D A N C E F O R A R T I F I C I A L I N T E L L I G E N C E I N K – 1 2 E D U C AT I O N Understanding Artificial Intelligence in Education INTRODUCTION Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a distant possibility—it’s a present reality, increasingly embedded in the tools, systems, and decisions shaping education. Educators and students are already encountering AI through everyday platforms used for instruction, communication, and operations. This rapid integration of AI brings both promise and complexity, requiring thoughtful, ongoing leadership from schools and districts throughout Massachusetts as these technologies offer the potential to shift current practices and future needs of students and educators. WHY THIS MATTERS AI presents exciting opportunities but also significant risks if implemented without understanding and intentionality. As with past waves of technology, the promise of innovation will be weighed against equity concerns, ethical implications, and system readiness. This guidance supports leaders in balancing those trade-offs responsibly. From personalized learning applications to school and system operations, AI is increasingly embedded in the educational ecosystem. For district leaders, this means that AI is becoming a powerful and evolving feature affecting multiple decisions. As AI capabilities grow and we offer guidance around its use, the need to understand what AI is, and what it isn’t, becomes more urgent. This section offers foundational awareness and background knowledge for district leaders, educators, students, and community members. It defines AI, clarifies the different types of tools, and introduces early implications for classroom use, guidance and policy development, and educational equity. WHAT IS AI? AI refers to computer systems that are designed to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. These include recognizing speech, processing language, analyzing data, detecting patterns, making predictions, generating new content—and increasingly, taking action based on that information. In educational contexts, AI tools may