K12 AI Governance Adoption Path: Emerging to Established

This guide is designed for K12 school districts that have established basic AI governance practices and want to advance to a more comprehensive and mature approach. If your district has implemented foundational AI policies and processes but seeks to develop more sophisticated governance structures, this path is for you.

What will you accomplish?

By following this guide, your district will:

• Enhance and formalize AI governance structures
• Develop more comprehensive AI policies and procedures
• Improve AI integration in teaching and learning
• Strengthen data governance and privacy practices
• Advance risk management and security measures for AI

Action Plan

For each action, we provide a brief explanation, basic implementation steps, and key stakeholders to involve. For detailed guidance, refer to the specific guide for each action item.

1. Establish a formal AI Strategy and Roadmap

Explanation: Develop a long-term plan for AI integration aligned with district goals and educational objectives.

Steps: Assemble a strategic planning team, assess current state and define vision, set strategic objectives, develop a detailed roadmap, align with existing policies, and create an implementation plan.

Sponsor: Superintendent or Chief Technology Officer

2. Develop AI Ethics Guidelines

Explanation: Create ethical guidelines to ensure responsible and ethical use of AI technologies across all district operations.

Steps: Form an AI Ethics Committee, define key ethical principles, draft guidelines, conduct stakeholder review, align with existing policies, implement approval process, develop communication plan, provide training and support.

Sponsor: Chief Academic Officer or Ethics Officer

3. Implement Advanced Data Governance for AI

Explanation: Establish robust data management practices specific to AI systems, ensuring data privacy, quality, and responsible use.

Steps: Establish a Data Governance Team, develop a data classification system, create data lifecycle policies, implement data quality measures, enhance data access controls.

Sponsor: Chief Information Officer or Data Protection Officer

4. Create an AI Risk Management Framework

Explanation: Develop a structured approach to identify, assess, and mitigate risks associated with AI implementation in the educational environment.

Steps: Establish a risk management team, identify potential risks, develop a risk assessment matrix, create risk mitigation strategies, establish monitoring and reporting procedures, define roles and responsibilities.

Sponsor: Risk Management Officer or Chief Operations Officer

5. Enhance Governance for AI-Integrated Curriculum

Explanation: Provide tools, policies, and structures to guide AI-enhanced and AI-integrated curriculum.

Steps: Establish an AI curriculum governance committee, develop AI curriculum integration policies, create an AI tool evaluation framework, implement AI-aware curriculum review processes, establish AI competency standards, develop AI-specific assessment policies.

Sponsor: Curriculum Director or Chief Academic Officer

6. Establish an AI Competency Framework for Educators

Explanation: Develop a structured approach to define, assess, and develop AI-related skills among teaching staff, ensuring consistent standards and responsible AI integration in education.

Steps: Form an AI Competency Governance Committee, define AI Competency Policy, establish Assessment and Certification Policy, develop AI Professional Development Policy, create Monitoring and Evaluation Policy.

Sponsor: Professional Development Coordinator or Human Resources Director

7. Establish AI Service Management Policies

Explanation: Create policies for evaluating, implementing, and managing AI services to ensure educational value and cost-effectiveness.

Steps: Form an AI Service Governance Committee, develop evaluation and adoption policies, establish cost management and budgeting guidelines, create vendor governance and service continuity policies.

Sponsor: Chief Technology Officer or IT Director

8. Develop Student AI Literacy and Empowerment Programs

Explanation: Create initiatives to educate students about AI and empower them to use it responsibly.

Steps: Design age-appropriate curriculum, develop ethical guidelines for student AI use, create assessment framework for AI literacy, implement programs across grade levels.

Sponsor: Curriculum Director or Chief Academic Officer

Next Steps

After completing these actions, your district will have a more mature and comprehensive AI governance framework. To continue advancing your practices:

• Regularly review and update your AI strategy and policies
• Expand AI literacy efforts to include parents and the community
• Explore advanced AI applications in personalized learning and administrative efficiency
• Consider moving towards the Transformative level in specific areas of strength

For more comprehensive guidance on each action item, please refer to the detailed implementation guides linked above.