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After grappling for weeks with the problems presented by allowing artificial intelligence technology to be used in the classroom, the Frederick County Board of Education has gotten to a good place.
It decided to prohibit county students in all grades from using the technology. With all of the unknowns and all of the concerns about AI, that is the right choice, at least for now.
Going into its most recent meeting, the board was considering a ban that would only cover younger students. In September, the board had narrowed the options down to a ban in pre-K through fifth grade or pre-K through eighth grade.
Steven Blivess, chief legal counsel for FCPS, told the board that the school system's leadership recommended a pre-K through fifth grade ban. During the discussion, the majority of board members appeared to be leaning toward a pre-K through eighth grade ban.
During public comment, four teachers from Urbana High School advocated for a full ban. Alex Thomas, a former student member of the board and Linganore High School graduate, also advocated for the ban.
When Thora Mintz, the student member of the board, said she would prefer a full ban for students, the tone of the meeting changed.
Board member Jaime Brennan echoed Mintz's comments, saying she has always been in favor of a full ban. Board member Colt Black also said he wanted a full ban.
Before the public comment period, board member Chad King Wilson Sr. had made a motion for a pre-K through eighth grade ban.
After public comment, board President Dean Rose announced that he would not be supporting Wilson's motion because he would only support a full ban.
Wilson then withdrew his motion and made a new motion for a full ban, which passed 6-1.
Board member Janie Inglis Monier said she agreed that the technology was moving forward too quickly and it could shortcut learning for students.
Rae Gallagher was the only board member to oppose the full ban. She said there are guardrails around FCPS' current implementation of Google Gemini for middle and high school students and there are beneficial uses of AI for study aids.
She also said she was concerned that banning AI for high school students might hurt their preparation for college.
According to the new policy, AI will be banned for all students except when necessary for AI literacy instruction, when it is required for a course or extracurricular activity or as may be approved by the superintendent and their designee.
AI literacy is the ability for students to gain the knowledge and skills to critically understand, evaluate and use AI tools safely and ethically.
This year, the Maryland General Assembly passed the Maryland Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act, which mandates that the Maryland State Department of Education provide guidelines for AI usage in kindergarten through 12th grade schools and that local school systems must develop their own guidance.
We know so little about AI, except that it is rapidly evolving. The most useful function of AI systems is their ability to research information, but they are still prone to errors. Students should be trained to do their own research, even if they will later use AI tools to do research in college or the business world.
The AI systems are also adept at turning an idea or a note into an essay or a research paper. But our schools need to be teaching students to write their own papers.
As the AI tools improve and teachers become more familiar with their strengths and weaknesses, the school system could allow students to have access to them. But there is no rush -- there are too many questions and concerns now.
-- Frederick News-Post