What just happened? Another school district has banned AI from being used in the classroom by students across all grades. While this isn't the first ban of its kind that we've seen, what's interesting is that it was introduced just weeks after the district started piloting Google Gemini for older students.
Frederick County became the latest school district to ban AI use in the classroom this week, voting 6-1 to restrict the technology from pre-K through 12th grade.
Initially, the board considered only banning AI for younger students, but eventually extended the ban through high school.
There are some instances when AI can still be used in the classroom, including lessons about the technology and accommodations for students with disabilities.
The decision marks a sharp turnaround by the district. The board had allowed middle and high school students to use Google Gemini, with teacher permission, during this school year, despite other AI platforms being blocked on school devices.
But board members expressed concern about the move. One said it was frustrating to see Gemini rolled out without any warning to parents, given that AI has been used to generate inappropriate images of students and bully others, and has generated "bad advice from a mental health standpoint."
There were also concerns about AI's impact on children, as well as teachers' inability to disable Gemini on student devices.
Scott Murphy, the district's director of curriculum and instruction, said Gemini was chosen because it was the only tool the board evaluated and found to meet the state's high standards for safety and privacy.
Justin Heid, president of the Frederick County Education Association, said that several educators are returning to traditional paper-and-pencil assignments instead of computer-based work because they are concerned students might use AI to complete their work. It's a strategy that some have been using since ChatGPT exploded in popularity three years ago.
While many parents have supported the ban, pointing out that kids can rely on AI as a crutch, others say a ban this extensive could have a negative impact on their future and leave them less prepared for college.
This isn't the first ban of its kind, though it is one of the stricter. New York City banned AI for elementary and middle school students last month, while the Los Angeles school district is also temporarily blocking access to generative AI tools on student devices across all grades.