OLYMPIA, Wash. – A briefing given to the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Committee on Thursday highlighted the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and its implications for education.
The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) emphasized the need for educators and students to adapt to this evolving technology.
This briefing was given after a recent announcement that Washington schools are partnering with Microsoft to integrate artificial intelligence into classrooms statewide. Microsoft announced it will provide its Co-Pilot tool to every student in Washington at no cost and train 2,000 teachers on its use.
OSPI has developed three guides to ensure AI is used safely and ethically in schools. The first guide focuses on building a human-centered AI foundation. The second offers practical guidance for classroom use.
Holli Kalaleh, OSPI’s Business and Marketing Career and Technical Education Program Supervisor, explained the third guide.
“In the third document, we hone in on ethical considerations. It explores AI’s societal impacts and responsible equitable use. It offers practical tips for educators, parents, students on evaluating AI technologies and fostering critical conversations in their communities about the use of AI,” Kalaleh said.
In addition to providing tools and training, Microsoft is offering consulting grants to 10 school districts and 10 community colleges to further support the integration of AI in education.
