MATTAPOISETT — The Old Rochester Regional School District adopted a new policy regarding usage of artificial intelligence tools for educational purposes at a joint committee meeting on Thursday, June 12.

The approved policy emphasizes transparency of AI use from staff and students in addition to fruitful engagement with the tools.

Superintendent Michael Nelson stated that the policy will change in the future as the technology develops further.

“We expect this policy to change regularly, I think, for obvious reasons that AI is moving so quickly,” he said.

Key points in the policy guidelines include ethical use, equity, student engagement and transparency.

It is emphasized that “clear communication” of AI use must be provided between educators and students. The policy states, “AI tools should be used to complement, not replace, the role of educators, ensuring that student learning is enhanced in a responsible and meaningful way.”

The ethical use guideline stated that AI tools should support personalized learning, student engagement and critical thinking skills.

The policy also protects students' privacy and safety, abiding by data protection laws such as the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. This clause will ensure that student information is safeguarded, in addition to “controlling access by minors to inappropriate matter on the internet.”