As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, the Mendon-Upton Regional School District is taking proactive steps to integrate it into the classroom– while ensuring students use it responsibly and effectively.At Miscoe Hill Middle School, eighth-grade students experimented with a program called Magic School, an AI platform designed to support learning. In one classroom activity, students used it to generate opening sentences for essays — helping to break through writer’s block and kick-start their ideas.“It gives some options for opening statements and they were using that to go back and do their writing,” said Ryan Robidoux, the district’s director of digital learning.But the technology isn’t being used without oversight. Teachers can view every prompt students enter into the AI system, allowing them to monitor its use and provide additional support when needed.“You can see how students are using it so you can help support them,” Robidoux said. “You realize someone is having a really tough time starting their writing off, that’s probably a good time to go have a conversation.”Preparing Students for the Real WorldDistrict leaders believe avoiding AI in the classroom would ultimately do students a disservice. Instead, they’re focused on preparing them for a future where AI is an everyday tool — in college, in careers, and in life.“We want kids to experience what the expectations are when they leave school,” Robidoux said. “If we’re not giving them the tools to be responsible users or teaching them how to use AI, then we are not doing our job.”Still, the rapid rise of AI has some parents feeling uncertain.“I’m scared as a parent,” said Samantha DuBois, a mother of three. “I think we are going to need a decent amount of safeguards because it’s new.”State Guidelines Provide a FrameworkThat concern is being addressed at the state level. In August, the Massachusetts Department of Education released statewide guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in K-12 classrooms. The framework outlines five core principles – academic integrity, human oversight, preventing bias, transparency and data privacy. AI tools must support, not substitute, student learning. According to the state guidelines, school districts have a responsibility to ensure that student work remains authentic, reflecting their own efforts and understanding. Educators and staff must retain full control over instructional decisions and interventions. AI can assist with tasks and offer insights, but it should never replace the professional judgment and expertise of human educators. Schools must actively monitor AI systems for bias. This includes taking steps to detect, prevent, and correct any instances where AI might reinforce stereotypes or inequities in content, assessment, or instructional support. School districts are also encouraged to clearly communicate to students, educators, and families how AI is being used, and for what purpose. Privacy must be a top priority. Any AI initiative in schools must comply with strict data protection standards to safeguard student information. Responsible data management is key to maintaining student trust and legal compliance.Robidoux said that every AI program used in this district of 2,000 students is backed by a data privacy agreement, ensuring that students’ personal information is secure.“Which ensures their personal information is not being sold or used to train these systems,” he said.With AI changing rapidly, the district acknowledges the need to remain flexible and forward-thinking — while always keeping students’ best interests at heart.“Every day, the goalposts move in terms of expectations for AI,” Robidoux said. “So we have to be adaptable.”

UPTON, Mass. —

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve, the Mendon-Upton Regional School District is taking proactive steps to integrate it into the classroom– while ensuring students use it responsibly and effectively.

At Miscoe Hill Middle School, eighth-grade students experimented with a program called Magic School, an AI platform designed to support learning. In one classroom activity, students used it to generate opening sentences for essays — helping to break through writer’s block and kick-start their ideas.

“It gives some options for opening statements and they were using that to go back and do their writing,” said Ryan Robidoux, the district’s director of digital learning.

But the technology isn’t being used without oversight. Teachers can view every prompt students enter into the AI system, allowing them to monitor its use and provide additional support when needed.

“You can see how students are using it so you can help support them,” Robidoux said. “You realize someone is having a really tough time starting their writing off, that’s probably a good time to go have a conversation.”

Preparing Students for the Real World

District leaders believe avoiding AI in the classroom would ultimately do students a disservice. Instead, they’re focused on preparing them for a future where AI is an everyday tool — in college, in careers, and in life.

“We want kids to experience what the expectations are when they leave school,” Robidoux said. “If we’re not giving them the tools to be responsible users or teaching them how to use AI, then we are not doing our job.”

Still, the rapid rise of AI has some parents feeling uncertain.

“I’m scared as a parent,” said Samantha DuBois, a mother of three. “I think we are going to need a decent amount of safeguards because it’s new.”

State Guidelines Provide a Framework

That concern is being addressed at the state level. In August, the Massachusetts Department of Education released statewide guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in K-12 classrooms. The framework outlines five core principles – academic integrity, human oversight, preventing bias, transparency and data privacy. AI tools must support, not substitute, student learning.

According to the state guidelines, school districts have a responsibility to ensure that student work remains authentic, reflecting their own efforts and understanding.

Educators and staff must retain full control over instructional decisions and interventions. AI can assist with tasks and offer insights, but it should never replace the professional judgment and expertise of human educators.

Schools must actively monitor AI systems for bias. This includes taking steps to detect, prevent, and correct any instances where AI might reinforce stereotypes or inequities in content, assessment, or instructional support.

School districts are also encouraged to clearly communicate to students, educators, and families how AI is being used, and for what purpose. Privacy must be a top priority. Any AI initiative in schools must comply with strict data protection standards to safeguard student information. Responsible data management is key to maintaining student trust and legal compliance.

Robidoux said that every AI program used in this district of 2,000 students is backed by a data privacy agreement, ensuring that students’ personal information is secure.

“Which ensures their personal information is not being sold or used to train these systems,” he said.

With AI changing rapidly, the district acknowledges the need to remain flexible and forward-thinking — while always keeping students’ best interests at heart.

“Every day, the goalposts move in terms of expectations for AI,” Robidoux said. “So we have to be adaptable.”