Missouri DESE: Artificial Intelligence Guidance for Local Education Agencies (v1.0, 2025-26)

This guidance provides Missouri school districts with a roadmap for adopting artificial intelligence, emphasizing the balance between leveraging AI for personalized learning and maintaining strict human oversight and data privacy. It encourages LEAs to develop flexible policies that prepare students for an AI-driven workforce while protecting against bias and academic dishonesty.

Artificial Intelligence Guidance for

Local Education Agencies Version 1.0

Missouri DEPARTMENT OF ELEMENTARY & SECONDARY

EDUCATION

TM

2025-26

Table of Contents Version History.............................................................................................................................................. 2 Acknowledgments......................................................................................................................................... 3 Purpose ......................................................................................................................................................... 4 Legislative Context ........................................................................................................................................ 4 What is Artificial Intelligence ........................................................................................................................ 5 Challenges and Benefits of AI in Education .................................................................................................. 6 Best Practices for Implementing AI in Education........................................................................................ 10 AI Integration .............................................................................................................................................. 12 AI Policies .................................................................................................................................................... 14 Resources .................................................................................................................................................... 18

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Version History Date

Description of Changes

Version

Initial document created

1.0

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Acknowledgments Computer Science Advisory Council With (DESE),the thecouncil council Withmembers membersselected selectedby by the theDepartment DepartmentofofElementary Elementaryand andSecondary Secondary Education (DESE), is specialistsin inboth both education educationand andcomputer computerscience, science,working workingtogether togethertotoimprove improveand and is made up of specialists

maintain computer science education throughout Missouri. The council was tasked to develop guidelines (LEA). guidelines for for artificial artificialintelligence intelligence for forlocal local education education agencies agencies (LEA).

Name Atkins, Dr. Charlene Bitter, Heather

Agency/Title University University of ofCentral Central Missouri Missouri

Name Lumpkin, Jim

Computer Science, Francis Howell DESE Career and Technical Education Coordinator Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity, Lee's Lee’s Summit Summit

Marra, Dr. Rose

Burton, April

Instructional Technology, Francis Howell

Olson, Sarah

Chism, Betty

Computer ComputerApps Appsand andPrograms, Programs, Ferguson-Florissant Ferguson-Florissant

Perkins, Lisa

Cline, Cari

Northwest NorthwestMissouri MissouriState State

Pingrey, Jamye

Brown, Lori Buckner, Christy

Corcoran, Michael Dierker, Elizabeth Franks, Kendra German, Susan Hamilton, Robert Hays, Dr. Lauren Ibberson, Katy Liu, Dr. Siming

University DESE Computer Science Assistant Director Computer Science, Rockwood DESE Director of Fine Arts

McKoy, Dr. Stefanie Murphy, Brock

Pryde, Kelly Roth, Justin Schack, Katherine

DESE Curriculum Coordinator Elementary Computers, Fatima School District University University of ofCentral Central Missouri Missouri

Shannon, Cindy Silman, Haley

Fine Arts Content Lead, Wentzville Missouri State University

Tremain, Dr. Cade

Tietze, Eric

Agency/Title Cybersecurity, Fort Osage University University of of Missouri Missouri Columbia Special Education, Branson School District CEO & Co-Founder Co-Founder of CEO & of Parent ProTech Business and Marketing Educator, Nevada Business Educator, Stewartsville Media Specialist, Columbia University University of ofCentral Central Missouri STEM, Ste. Genevieve Math Content Lead, Wentzville DESE BMIT Director Business Education, Cape Girardeau Schools Technology Director, Lebanon Schools MO Department of Mental Health

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Introduction Artificial educational landscape, landscape,presenting presentingboth both Artificialintelligence intelligence (AI) (AI) is rapidly transforming the educational

opportunities and challenges for students, educators, administrators, and communities. As AI tools become accessible,they theyare areincreasingly increasinglybeing beingintegrated integratedinto into classrooms, classrooms,school school become more more advanced advanced and accessible, operations, ensure these thesetechnologies technologiesare areused usedeffectively effectivelyand andethically, ethically,ititisis operations, and and educational educational policy. To ensure critical Al's capabilities, capabilities,limitations, limitations, and andimplications. implications.This This critical that thateducational educational stakeholders stakeholders understand AI’s guidance Missouri's LEAs LEAsininnavigating navigatingthe theintegration integrationof ofAI AIininaa guidance document was developed to support Missouri’s

manner that enhances teaching and learning while maintaining student safety, data privacy, and academic integrity. Grounded in current research, national policy recommendations, and input from Missouri's AdvisoryCouncil, Council,this thisdocument documentprovides providesaacomprehensive comprehensiveframework frameworkfor for Missouri’s Computer Computer Science Science Advisory the of AI AI in in education. education.ItIt outlines outlineskey keyconsiderations considerationsfor forAIAIimplementation, implementation,including including theresponsible responsible use of professional development, instructional best practices, data privacy, and policy development. Designed to guidance empowers empowers LEAs LEAstotocreate createthoughtful, thoughtful, tobe beflexible flexibleand and responsive responsive to evolving technology, this guidance context-specific needs while while preparing preparingstudents studentsfor forthe thedemands demandsofofan anAIAlcontext-specific policies that align with local needs driven should be beto to enhance enhancestudent studentoutcomes. outcomes. driven future. future.The The primary primary purpose purpose of integrating integrating AI AI in schools should AI as aatool tool to to empower empower educators and and deepen deepen engagement engagementand andacademic academicgrowth growthacross acrossthe the AI can can serve as learning environment.

Purpose This Missouri LEAs, LEAs,administrators, administrators,educators, educators,and andeducational educational This guidance document is intended to assist assist Missouri

support personnel in navigating the responsible use of AI in education. AI and algorithms algorithmsthat thatmimic mimichuman humanintelligence intelligenceor orproblem-solving problem-solving AI refers refers to to computer systems and abilities. used itit continuously continuously analyzes analyzeshuman humanlanguage, language,enhancing enhancingits its abilities.AI AI is is constantly constantly evolving. evolving. As As AI is used

ability to interact effectively with users. AI expectations,indicating indicatingits itsinevitability inevitability in in business, business,education, education,and andthe thebroader broader AI is is rapidly surpassing surpassing expectations,

digital arena. Despite its benefits, AI tools may generate predictions that are not always accurate, potentially resulting in incomplete or misleading information. AI will generate confident predictions but can be flawed based on insufficient, biased, or flawed training data. As systems improve, these flaws may be reduced; however, human oversight will remain vital. This underscores the necessity for LEAs to address AI and andits itsimpact impacton onboth bothcurrent current education education practices practicesand andprospective prospectivejob jobmarket market address generative AI expectations typeof ofAI AIthat thatcan cancreate createnew newcontent contentlike liketext, text,music, music,oror expectations for for students. students. Generative AI isisaatype code based on what it has learned from existing data. As AI and machine learning skills become crucial for must devise devisestrategies strategiestotoequip equipstudents studentsfor foreconomic economic forworkforce workforcereadiness, readiness, educators must empowerment landscape. empowerment in in an an evolving landscape. The 2024 Future of Jobs Report by the World Economic Forum projects significant transformations in the labor market within the next five years driven by the rise of AI. According to the report, 75 percent of the AI by by 2027, 2027,leading leadingtotojob jobdisplacement displacementand andnew new thecompanies companies surveyed intend to integrate generative AI job opportunities. Other studies have suggested that 19 percent of the workforce could see more