Artificial Intelligence (AI) Usage Plan

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how we learn, create, communicate, and solve problems. At Ladue School District, we believe AI should enhance learning, not replace it.

Our goal is to prepare students to become AI-Ready Graduates who know how to think critically, create confidently, collaborate responsibly, and use AI ethically. As AI becomes more capable, uniquely human skills such as curiosity, creativity, empathy, communication, and sound judgment become even more valuable.

We focus on Screen Value—using technology intentionally to deepen learning, encourage creativity, and support meaningful student engagement.

Human in the Loop

People remain at the center of learning.

AI can generate ideas, organize information, provide feedback, and support problem-solving, but students are responsible for the thinking, decision-making, and learning.

Students should use AI to strengthen their understanding, not replace the productive struggle that leads to growth.

Every assignment should reflect the student's own learning, voice, and understanding.

Developing Skills Before Depending on AI

Learning is more than producing a finished product.

It is the process of asking questions, exploring ideas, making mistakes, revising thinking, and communicating understanding.

Students are encouraged to develop these essential skills independently before relying on AI assistance. When used thoughtfully, AI can help students refine their work, deepen understanding, and extend learning, but it should never replace the learning process itself.

Student Ownership

Students are responsible for all work they submit.

When AI is used, students should:

• Ensure the final work reflects their own thinking and understanding.
• Review AI-generated content for accuracy, bias, and completeness.
• Verify information using reliable sources.
• Maintain their own voice and perspective.
• Follow teacher expectations for appropriate AI use.

AI may support learning, but students remain the authors, creators, and decision-makers.

Academic Integrity

Honesty, trust, and responsibility are essential in an AI-powered world.

AI may only be used when permitted by the teacher or assignment.

Students are expected to:

• Follow teacher directions regarding AI use.
• Acknowledge or cite AI assistance when required.
• Never present AI-generated work as entirely their own.
• Complete assessments and assignments in accordance with district academic integrity expectations.

Using AI responsibly is part of demonstrating integrity, ethical decision-making, and respect for the learning process.

Best Practices for Responsible AI Use

Students and staff should use AI in ways that support learning, creativity, and responsible decision-making.

Think First

Use your own thinking before asking AI for assistance.

Learn, Don't Replace

Use AI to brainstorm, practice, organize ideas, receive feedback, and deepen understanding, not to complete the learning for you.

Keep Your Voice

Your work should reflect your ideas, experiences, creativity, and understanding.

Verify Information

AI can make mistakes or reflect bias. Always evaluate information carefully and confirm important facts with trusted sources.

Protect Privacy

Never enter personal, confidential, or sensitive information into unapproved AI tools. Protecting student privacy is everyone's responsibility.

Follow Teacher Guidance

Teachers will communicate when AI is appropriate and how it may be used for specific learning experiences.

Our Commitment

Ladue School District is committed to providing safe, age-appropriate opportunities for students to learn about AI and with AI. We will continue to:

• Teach AI literacy alongside digital citizenship.
• Protect student privacy and data security.
• Use district-approved AI tools.
• Design learning experiences that emphasize critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication.
• Balance technology with meaningful discussion, writing, reading, hands-on learning, and human connection.
• Regularly review and update our practices as AI continues to evolve.

Technology will continue to evolve. Our purpose remains the same: preparing every student to think critically, create confidently, and lead responsibly in an AI-powered world.

The most effective use of AI is as a tool to enhance and streamline learning while maintaining the learner’s unique voice and ideas. Learning is not just about producing content—it is about thinking, organizing, and expressing ideas clearly. Using AI too early in this learning process can hinder personal growth.

Student Guidance: Best Practices

• Develop Your Skills First: Master writing and thinking independently to make AI a more effective tool later. Learn to craft your own thoughts before using AI to refine them.
• Use AI to Refine, Not Replace: Use AI to help structure ideas or improve clarity, but do not let it generate your full response.
• Maintain Your Voice: Ensure any AI-assisted work truly represents your unique ideas and sounds like you.
• Ask Before Using: If you are unsure whether AI is allowed on an assignment, always check with your teacher.
• Be Honest and Cite Your Tools: You must always disclose when and how you have used AI in your work.
• Check for Accuracy: AI can be inaccurate or biased. Always verify AI-generated information with credible sources.

Teacher Guidance: Fostering a Responsible AI-Ready Classroom

• Provide Clear Guidance: Teachers will provide clear instructions on when and how AI may be used for specific assignments.
• Promote Skill Development: Design assignments that emphasize critical thinking and personal experiences to foster skills that AI cannot replicate.
• Enhance Instruction: Teachers can use approved AI tools to differentiate lessons, design assessments, create instructional resources, and streamline communications.
• Maintain Agency: While AI can assist with tasks like grading, teachers remain the final authority and are responsible for all assessments and feedback.
• Educate on Bias: Staff and students will be educated on the inherent biases in AI systems and the importance of human oversight to validate AI outputs.

Approved Tools

Users must complete an onboarding experience with AI literacy resources before use. The district has approved specific AI tools for student and teacher use. The use of any non-approved AI tool is prohibited.

We advise all staff to refer to the approved AI list and usage plan, Board Policy EHBD-AP, and the formal software approval process before implementing any new tools.

Helpful reminder:

If you are unsure whether an AI tool is district-approved or whether recording, uploading, or sharing information is allowed, do not use the tool and contact the Technology Department before proceeding.

The following tools have been approved for use in our district:

• For Students & Teachers: Google for Education Gemini (K-12 students), NotebookLM (grades 3-12), and Canva are approved resources.
• For Teachers: Brisk Teaching, Turnitin, and ZeroGPT are approved teacher resources. Teachers also have access to additional features within Gemini in Google Classroom.
• Other: Magic School AI is approved for grades 6-12, and Apple Intelligence's "Math Notes" feature is available on all student and teacher iPads.

Prohibited Uses

The following actions are strictly prohibited:

• Plagiarism: Presenting AI-generated content as your own original work.
• Harmful Content: Creating false or malicious content, including "deepfakes," or using AI to bully, harass, or harm others.
• Data Privacy Violations:
  • Protecting Personal and Student Information
    Staff and students may not enter, upload, attach, share, transmit, record, or copy confidential, sensitive, or personally identifiable information (PII)—including student, staff, or family information—into unapproved third-party artificial intelligence (AI) tools, applications, or platforms without explicit district authorization. This includes text prompts, documents, images, screenshots, audio or video recordings, or any other media provided to AI systems. Such actions violate district policy and applicable state and federal data-privacy laws, including FERPA and COPPA.
• Infringing on Privacy: 

  • Respecting Privacy in Classrooms and School-Related Spaces:
    Staff and students may not use unapproved third-party AI tools to record audio or video, monitor classrooms, track or profile individuals, or analyze conversations, behaviors, or interactions without explicit district authorization. Using AI in these ways may infringe on individual privacy rights and violate district policy and federal privacy protections, including FERPA and COPPA.

To support the successful and ethical integration of AI, the Ladue School District is committed to providing robust professional development for staff and comprehensive AI literacy education for all members of the school community.

Professional Development for Teachers

We offer ongoing training, workshops, and resources to help teachers learn about AI and integrate it responsibly and effectively into their instruction. 

AI Literacy for All 

We believe that responsible AI use starts with a strong foundation in digital citizenship. Our curriculum is designed to teach all students and staff how to use AI ethically and effectively.

Key Resources & Partners:

• Google: We use Google's "Teaching responsible use of AI" lesson plans and materials. These lessons help students understand what AI is, how it works, and how to use it ethically, covering topics like checking for bias, protecting privacy, and maintaining academic integrity.
• Common Sense Media: The district utilizes AI literacy lessons from Common Sense Media, a trusted resource in digital citizenship, specifically for grades 6-12.
• Code.org: We also draw on resources from Code.org to support our AI literacy curriculum.