School District 60 approves AI-use guidelines for students and teachers

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — School District 60 (SD60) has approved new guidelines governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) by students and staff. 

The AI guidelines were formally adopted by SD60 trustees at its regular board meeting on December 15th.

SD60 says the guidelines, which have been in development for nearly a year, aim to support the safe, ethical and effective use of AI tools in schools, while maintaining academic integrity and protecting student privacy.

Superintendent Stephen Petrucci told Energeticcity.ca the approval marks an important step as AI becomes increasingly common both inside and outside the classroom.

“People are using AI all the time outside school, both students and adults,” Petrucci said.

“But these guidelines help guide how we’re going to develop programming with teachers and students in the classroom.”

According to Petrucci, SD60 developed the guidelines in collaboration with the West Vancouver and Surrey school districts. 

The district’s AI guidelines include seven key principles:

• Protect privacy: Do not include personally identifiable information in AI prompts.
• Follow school instructions: AI use must align with teacher and school direction, with proper acknowledgment to maintain academic integrity.
• Respect the code of conduct: AI should be used honestly, respectfully and responsibly, just as students are expected to behave in class.
• Use approved tools: Only AI tools approved by the district may be used.
• Check for mistakes and bias: AI can produce errors or biased information and should be carefully reviewed.
• Respect Indigenous knowledge: AI may not accurately reflect Indigenous oral traditions and must be used carefully and respectfully.
• Support inclusion: AI should be used to help all learners and foster inclusive learning environments.

Petrucci told Energeticcity.ca the guidelines will help shape future classroom practices, assessment methods and inclusion strategies across the district.

“AI is going to be very helpful with [our inclusion practices],” he said. 

“But it all starts with understanding and education around safety, not putting private or personal information into AI prompts and using good tools that help with lesson planning [and] differentiation.”

Petrucci added the work will continue as interest in and reliance on artificial intelligence grows.

SD60’s full board meeting agenda for December 15th, which includes the AI guidelines, can be viewed below.