T姻AIlblazing is a monthly column capturing the latest trends and innovations surrounding artificial intelligence and its impact on K12 based on research and conversations with district leaders.
Artificial intelligence is arguably the of the 21st century, making it what I believe to be an unbannable force for good in K12 education.
Soon after the internet was created, the required any school receiving E-rate funding to adopt safeguards to keep students from accessing harmful content online by installing internet filters, blocking access to harmful sites, monitoring students’ activity and adopting local internet safety policies.
AI has received similar attention over the years, although concern among educators has shifted dramatically since ChatGPT’s release in November 2022. If you’ll recall, major districts like New York City schools in early 2023, eventually lifting the ban months later.
Just this month, Denver Public Schools blocked students’ access to ChatGPT on all school-issued devices and Wi-Fi, KDVR . In an email to families, the district expressed concerns over the chatbot’s new features that could promote bullying and exposure to inappropriate content.
“We are just officially letting people know that the new functions and ChatGPT as a whole will not be accessible by students and staff here in DPS, period,” Deputy Superintendent Tony Smith told the news outlet.
Lessons learned about AI
Although districts are banning specific chatbots, AI will be a regular component of schooling for the foreseeable future. You can’t just outright ban the tool that’s making instruction and learning more accessible, Desert Sands Unified School District Superintendent Kelly May-Vollmar told me at The Future of Education Technology Conference weeks back.
“Certainly, there are threats if we don’t teach them [students] how to be ethical and responsible,” she said. “You’ve heard stories of kids going and manipulating photographs, and I think just not fully understanding what kind of trouble they can get into.”
Regardless, she and many other superintendents firmly believe in AI’s potential to amplify the work educators are doing, especially for those working in special education. For example, one of the most time-consuming tasks is writing individualized education programs, said Centralia High School Superintendent Chuck Lane.
“There are things you can do with AI to help that process go smoother,” he said. “It’s a painstaking process, and it keeps getting more complex. Anything we can do to give some of that time back to our teachers, we’re interested in.”
How can AI be a force for good in your district in 2026? Read our latest coverage spotlighting districts that are already making an impact with AI.
If youre not growing, your district isnt either
In just eight months, Southwest Metro Intermediate School District 288 increased community engagement by 3,700% and reduced administrative work by nearly 500% through an AI-powered survey and engagement platform, said Superintendent Jeff Horton, speaking to attendees at FETC 2026.
This principal doesnt want kids replacing their brains with AI
Buckeye Central High School Principal Dr. Michael Martin has developed a new strategy for using AI for educational purposes. Its called the 80/20, 20/80 rule. Its purpose: to keep students accountable for their workwhileusing AI.
Free AI tools this superintendent wants you to use
Henry County Public Schools Superintendent Jim Masters has several AI tools in his toolbelt, and he shares how leaders with no tech background can use them to automate administrative routines, grade students work and complete various tasks more efficiently. To top it off, these tools are completely free.
