JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Florida is implementing new rules around the use of AI in the classroom.
The Florida Board of Education recently approved the new rules, which will take effect next school year, and aim to provide parental choice and guardrails around the technology’s use in learning.
When it comes to using AI as a learning tool in the classroom, some local parents like Alicia Lipscomb have reservations.
“I think technology has went a little too far and I want use to go back to the simple things in life,” said Lipscomb.
And even Lipscomb’s daughter Leonia Thomason, who said she uses AI to help generate ideas and as a writing tool, argued the idea of an AI teacher is where she draws the line.
“As it being a teacher and as it kind of growing into the classrooms, no,” said Thomason.
Now, in an effort to put up guardrails around the technology before it’s fully rolled out in Florida classrooms, the state Board of Education has adopted new rules districts must follow.
Those rules include data privacy protections, prohibitions on the use of AI systems designed to simulate companionship and a requirement for parents to be notified when an AI tool is approved for instruction.
Andrew Spar, President of the Florida Education Association, said it’s good to see state leaders addressing the issue, but he argued this slate of rules misses the mark on two levels.
He argued AI shouldn’t be used at all in pre-K through 2nd grade.
He also said he’s worried the rules wouldn’t prevent AI from replacing human teachers.
“When technology is a primary source, when virtual learning is a primary source, students tend to fall behind. You need that human interaction with your classmates, with the teacher sin the room,” said Spar.
But the new rules do include one protection parents like Lipscomb agree with.
That’s the ability for parents to opt their students out of using AI learning tools, and a requirement for districts to offer non-AI instruction in their place.
“I think we should have a say into it cause, I mean, we want our kids challenged,” said Lipscomb.
The new statewide AI in education policy will apply not only to traditional public schools, but also Charter schools and state colleges.
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<
[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]
[SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.