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HCPSS / POLICIES

Policy 3070 – Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching, Learning, and School Operations

The purpose of this policy is to establish a framework and expectations for the responsible adoption, use, evaluation, and governance of artificial intelligence across HCPSS. It applies to all artificial intelligence tools that interact with HCPSS students, staff, or data, regardless of how those tools are accessed or provided, and to all students, employees, contractors, vendors, and volunteers who use such tools. This policy directs the Superintendent to establish administrative regulations that implement these expectations in instruction, assessment, professional learning, procurement, data governance, and operations.

Policy Document

Implementation Procedures

I. Policy Value Statement

The Howard County Board of Education (Board) recognizes that artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly embedded in the tools used for teaching, learning, and school system operations. Used responsibly, artificial intelligence can personalize learning, support educators, strengthen operations, and help students develop skills needed for a changing economy. Used without adequate safeguards, it can introduce risks related to privacy, bias, equity, academic integrity, and over-reliance on automated systems. The Board recognizes the dynamic nature of the AI ecosystem and takes a “Do no harm” approach.

It is the policy of the Board that artificial intelligence be used only in ways that enhance, and never replace, the professional judgment of educators, counselors, and school leaders. Human relationships, professional expertise, and student wellbeing remain central to the work of the school system. All artificial intelligence used by Howard County Public School System (HCPSS) must serve clear educational or operational purposes, protect the rights and safety of students and staff, and comply with all applicable federal and Maryland law.

This policy aligns with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) Maryland K-12 Artificial Intelligence Guidance and supports the HCPSS strategic plan and instructional priorities. The Board treats this policy as a living document, subject to regular review and revision as technology, evidence, and law evolve.

II. Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish a framework and expectations for the responsible adoption, use, evaluation, and governance of artificial intelligence across HCPSS. It applies to all artificial intelligence tools that interact with HCPSS students, staff, or data, regardless of how those tools are accessed or provided, and to all students, employees, contractors, vendors, and volunteers who use such tools. This policy directs the Superintendent to establish administrative regulations that implement these expectations in instruction, assessment, professional learning, procurement, data governance, and operations.

III. Standards

  1. Human-Centered Use and Oversight

    Artificial intelligence will support, not replace, professional educators and staff. Any artificial intelligence output used in a consequential decision affecting a student or employee will be subject to documented human oversight. Employees retain the authority and responsibility to interpret, contextualize, override, or reject artificial intelligence recommendations.

    Artificial intelligence will support, not replace, professional expertise of staff. Staff retain the authority and responsibility to interpret, contextualize, override, or reject artificial intelligence recommendations. Staff are responsible for the output of any work produced using AI tools.

  2. Permitted and Prohibited Uses

    Approved artificial intelligence tools may be used only for approved educational and operational purposes consistent with this policy and its administrative regulations. Staff may use approved AI tools for lesson planning, translation, and communication drafts.

    The following uses are prohibited:

    1. Grading student work, monitoring student behavior, counseling, or placement decisions.

    2. Prior to student mastery of content.

    3. Prior to completing the required AI literacy curriculum.

    4. Entering personally identifiable student or employee information into generative artificial intelligence tools that are not approved and contractually protected by HCPSS;

    5. Using artificial intelligence to make a final consequential decision about a student or employee without human review;

    6. Collecting biometric, behavioral, or location data through artificial intelligence systems unless legally required, educationally justified, and approved by HCPSS;

    7. Using artificial intelligence in any manner that violates HCPSS policies, the student or employee codes of conduct, or applicable law.

  3. Data Privacy and Security

    All artificial intelligence use will comply with applicable privacy and data protection laws, including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), and the Maryland Student Data Privacy Act. HCPSS will minimize the data shared with artificial intelligence systems, maintain strong cybersecurity protections, and require human oversight of artificial intelligence systems that process student or employee data.

    Artificial intelligence will be used to expand, not restrict, equitable access to high-quality learning. All artificial intelligence use will comply with federal and state civil rights laws, including Title VI, Title IX, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Artificial intelligence may support accessibility but will not replace legally required evaluations, services, accommodations, or language access. HCPSS will monitor artificial intelligence tools for biased or inequitable outcomes and take corrective action where disparities emerge.

  4. Academic Integrity and Assessment

    HCPSS will establish clear, standardized expectations defining when artificial intelligence use is permitted, when unaided work is required, and how artificial intelligence assistance must be acknowledged.

    Assessment practices will emphasize reasoning, analysis, and evidence of student thinking. Consistent with state guidance, HCPSS will not use artificial intelligence detection tools as the primary means of enforcing academic integrity, given their documented unreliability.

  5. AI Literacy and Curriculum

    HCPSS will provide developmentally appropriate artificial intelligence literacy instruction aligned with Maryland’s Digital Literacy and Computer Science standards. Instruction will be age-appropriate and will help students understand how artificial intelligence systems function, evaluate outputs for accuracy and bias, and use these tools ethically.

  6. Professional Learning

    HCPSS will provide role-specific professional learning so that educators, administrators, specialists, and support staff can use artificial intelligence safely, ethically, and effectively. Professional learning will emphasize critical evaluation of artificial intelligence outputs, protection of student data, and recognition of when artificial intelligence use is inappropriate. Professional learning will also include potential risks and impacts.

  7. Operational and Administrative Uses

    Artificial intelligence used in school system operations will be treated as a higher-risk use requiring caution, transparency, and continuous human oversight. Operational artificial intelligence systems that affect student opportunities will be evaluated for bias before adoption and monitored over time.

  8. Procurement and Vendor Governance

    Artificial intelligence tools will be vetted, both using internal guidance and vendor supplied data, before adoption for demonstrated student outcomes for learning, data practices, accessibility, and legal compliance. Vendor contracts will limit data use, retention, and deletion; prohibit advertising, profiling, and unrelated model training; require disclosure of data practices; and ensure compliance with breach notification laws. Approval of an artificial intelligence tool is an ongoing process, not a one-time decision.

    Additionally, in alignment with state guidelines, any AI tools in classrooms have demonstrated outcomes for student learning, are supplementing educator instruction, and that families are informed before use.

  9. Transparency and Communication

    HCPSS will communicate clearly with students, families, and staff about what artificial intelligence tools are used, what data are collected, how long data are retained, and when opt out options apply, using accessible and culturally and linguistically responsive formats.

IV. Responsibilities

  1. The Board directs the Superintendent to develop, maintain, and periodically review administrative regulations necessary to implement this policy.

  2. The Superintendent will designate a cross-functional team, including advisory of community members with relevant professional expertise (child development, mental health, technical development, higher education, etc.), instructional, technology, legal, special education, multilingual learner, equity, and operational leadership, to guide artificial intelligence planning and oversight.

  3. The Superintendent will establish procedures for vetting and approving artificial intelligence tools, monitoring their use for bias and unintended effects, and addressing errors or harm.

  4. The Superintendent will report to the Board periodically on the implementation of this policy, including equity impacts and emerging risks.

V. Delegation of Authority

The Superintendent is authorized to develop appropriate procedures for the implementation of this policy within the limits set forth by this policy.

VI. Definitions

Within the context of this policy, the following definitions apply:

  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Computer systems that perform tasks commonly associated with human intelligence, such as recognizing patterns, generating content, making predictions, or recommending actions.

  2. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Literacy – The knowledge and skills needed to understand how artificial intelligence systems work, evaluate their outputs for accuracy and bias, recognize appropriate and inappropriate uses, and apply ethical judgment when using these systems.

  3. Automated Decision-Making – The use of an artificial intelligence system to produce a recommendation, score, classification, or decision that affects a student or employee, with or without human involvement.

  4. Consequential Use – Any use of artificial intelligence that affects student access to programs, services, opportunities, discipline, evaluation, or the protection of civil rights. Consequential uses require documented human oversight.

  5. Generative AI – A category of artificial intelligence that produces new content, including text, images, audio, code, or video, in response to user prompts.

  6. HCPSS Employee – Any individual who is a permanent or temporary employee of the HCPSS whose compensation is paid in whole or part by the Board, including but not limited to, school-based administrators, teachers, substitute teachers, paraeducators, and other school-based and Central Office support staff.

  7. Human Oversight – Meaningful review by a qualified employee who has the authority and information needed to interpret, contextualize, override, or reject an artificial intelligence output before it affects a student or employee.

  8. Personally Identifiable Information (PII) – Any information that, alone or in combination, would make it possible to identify an individual with reasonable certainty.

VII. References

A. Legal

  • Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. §1232g

  • Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), 15 U.S.C. §6501 et seq.

  • Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA), 20 U.S.C. §1232h

  • Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §1400 et seq.

  • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, 29 U.S.C. §794

  • Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 42 U.S.C. §12101 et seq.

  • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, 42 U.S.C. §2000d

  • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, 20 U.S.C. §1681

  • Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), 47 U.S.C. §254(h)

  • Maryland Student Data Privacy Act, Md. Code Ann., Educ. §4-131

  • COMAR, Title 13A

B. Board Policies

C. Relevant Data Sources

D. Other

  • HCPSS Student Code of Conduct

  • Maryland State Guidance

  • Maryland State Department of Education, Maryland K-12 Artificial Intelligence Guidance

  • Maryland State Department of Education, Local Action Planning Guide for AI Implementation

VIII. History

ADOPTED: October 29, 2026

REVIEWED:

MODIFIED:

REVISED:

EFFECTIVE: October 29, 2026

Policy History Key

  • Adopted-Original date the Board took action to approve a policy
  • Reviewed-The date the status of a policy was assessed by the Superintendent’s Standing Policy Group
  • Modified-The date the Board took action to alter a policy that based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee did not require a comprehensive examination
  • Revised-The date the Board took action on a that policy based on the recommendation of the Superintendent/designee needed a comprehensive examination
  • Effective-The date a policy is implemented throughout the HCPSS, typically July 1 following Board action.