While schools have been grappling with the student use of artificial intelligence in classrooms, a growing shift is happening on the other side of the desk. Teachers are increasingly turning to AI tools for grading, lesson planning, and other responsibilities. As platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are shifting the way educators work, new concerns arise over fairness and regulation.
In March, New York City Public Schools released its first official guidance on AI use in classrooms, which listed out what AI is and what it is not. The document distinguished AI from a “thinking, reasoning, or conscious being,” and clarified that it cannot “exercise judgment the way people do.”
The guidance categorizes AI risks and benefits by using the analogy of a traffic light to clarify what uses of AI are and are not allowed. Under the red category, it is strictly prohibited for educators to use AI to make decisions about student grading, placement, discipline, and counseling. Under the yellow category, student use of AI for educational purposes is permissible, but only with active educator oversight. The yellow category also lists uses for educators but these are ones to be used with caution. For instance, AI can be used to generate translations for critical communications and translations to support multilingual learners, both of which must be reviewed by professionals prior to distribution. The green category includes approved uses for educators such as brainstorming lesson ideas, organizing or summarizing information, and translating non-critical school communications for families and communities who prefer a language other than English…