AI Guidance for Students

Tool Approval and Use

Students may only use age-appropriate GenAI tools that have been vetted and approved by CPS, as reflected in the EdTech Catalog.

A GenAI tool’s approval within the EdTech Catalog is a reflection that it meets the District’s standards for privacy, security, and confidentiality in compliance with all applicable state and federal laws. However, it does not reflect that the tool meets the District’s academic standards for verification, bias, or fairness. Students, staff, and guardians should refer to the badges associated with each tool to understand when a tool may not meet these standards. 

Students must obtain permission from their teacher before using GenAI tools for academic work.

Academic Integrity

While responsible GenAI use can assist in learning, it should not replace students’ independent thinking and learning. Students should produce work that is fundamentally their own. Students should clearly identify any AI-generated content that they have used in their assignments. Students are required to cite the use of GenAI in their academic work and specify how they used it. Failing to do so will be considered a violation of the Student Code of Conduct and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis according to individual school policy.

School reviews of each case will generally include:

• Gathering information about the suspected incident, including providing the student with an opportunity to explain their actions;
• Making reasonable efforts to contact parents/guardians to discuss the incident before assigning consequences; and
• Determining consequences based on the needs and rights of all parties.

Responsible Use: Digital Citizenship

Students must use GenAI tools ethically. Students should never use GenAI tools to create inappropriate or harmful content. Students must follow the Student Acceptable Use Policy whenever they use GenAI tools, just as they should when using any other information technology resources. Violations of these guidelines, including the misuse of GenAI to generate offensive or damaging material, will result in disciplinary actions, which may range from a warning to more severe penalties depending on the nature of the infraction, pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct.

Meaningful Use of GenAI

In compliance with the general guidance for all stakeholders shared in previous sections, students may want to consider using GenAI in the following ways:

Monitoring Safe Use

Usage of GenAI tools will be governed under the SOPPA model, wherein teachers are responsible for monitoring student use of approved technologies. Misuse of GenAI tools will be addressed in accordance with the Student Acceptable Use Policy and CPS’s Student Code of Conduct, which may include warnings or removal of access to tools. 

These guidelines ensure that students at CPS use GenAI technologies responsibly, contributing positively to their educational environment.