Score: -1 (14/10/15)
Orange County Grand Jury • 2023-2024 • Agency Response
Response to: Use of Artificial Intelligence in Public Schools (K-12), It’s Not Elementary

Newport-Mesa Unified School District's Response to the 2023-24 Orange County Grand*

Published: September 05, 2024 5 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 3 findings

F1
Orange County's K-12 public schools have implemented policies and/or guidelines around the use of different AI platforms in varying and inconsistent ways. Some prohibit AI's use; others allow it: and some don't have policies or guidelines governing AI at all. The District agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
By June 30, 2025, Orange County's K-12 schools should implement policies and guidelines regarding the appropriate use of AI. These may be provided at the district level or within individual schools through the adoption of an Acceptable Use Policy, Code of Ethics, or other written directives addressing the use of AI. The District has not yet fully implemented this recommendation but will implement this recommendation by September 1, 2025, with the following action plan: Phase 1: AI Initiative Program Development and Review • AI Workgroup Formation: Assemble a diverse workgroup of teachers, students, parents, and administrators for input about implementation of AI use with teacher and student. Draft Policy Review: Review existing draft policies and guidelines to ensure they adequately address AI-related issues. AI Language in Student Handbooks: August 2024, AI-specific language has been
F2
Superintendents provide varying levels of support in implementing AI policies and/or guidelines in their respective school districts. The District agrees with this finding. The Honorable Maria D. Hernandez Presiding Judge, Orange County Superior Court Date
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Superintendents should ensure that their schools have policies that cover, at a minimum: the scope, guiding principles, and training regarding the responsible use of AI tools by students and teachers; any prohibited uses of special considerations regarding AI tools; and related security, privacy, and safety considerations. The District has not yet fully implemented this recommendation but will implement this recommendation by November 2025, with the following action plan: A draft policy is waiting for executive cabinet and board approval at this time. AI language has already been added to all student handbooks August, 2024 addressing code of ethics and appropriate use of AI in regard to academic honesty.
F3
There are many resources to guide educators in using AI. Several are available at the local level through the Orange County Department of Education, Orange County Board of Education, CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County, and Orange Unified School District Technology Department, to name a few. However, utilization and even awareness of the availability of such resources is highly variable across school districts. The District agrees with this finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
K-12 students should be trained on the appropriate use of AI. The District has begun implementing this recommendation as follows: NMUSD is committed to equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the AI-driven world. Student-Centered AI Education: Open forums and discussions will be held to engage students in understanding AI's potential benefits and risks. Updated Student Handbooks: Clear guidelines on AI usage and academic honesty have been incorporated into all student handbooks. • Student Leadership: Selected students will serve as board members, advocating for responsible AI use and collaborating with the district's AI working group. Integrated AI Literacy: Digital citizenship lessons, with a focus on AI ethics and The Honorable Maria D. Hernandez Presiding Judge, Orange County Superior Court Date

Agency Responses 11

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.