Artificial Intelligence may feel like a sci-fi buzzword, but it’s becoming part of everyday life – from voice assistants to online recommendations. With this rapid rise comes excitement and concern, particularly in schools. Can AI enhance learning, or will it lead to shortcuts and intellectual laziness?
Durango School District 9-R has stepped up to address these questions with its new AI policy, released on Dec. 13 to staff and families. The policy strikes a careful balance: preparing students for a future filled with AI while ensuring ethical and responsible use.
This approach aligns seamlessly with the district’s Portrait of a Graduate vision, which emphasizes the skills students need to thrive in an interconnected, rapidly changing world. Generative AI is not just a tool for completing assignments. It’s an opportunity for students to develop agile thinking, creative problem-solving and the ability to collaborate effectively, all hallmarks of the Portrait of a Graduate.
Across Colorado, districts are grappling with how to integrate AI into education. More than a dozen districts adopted policies or pilot programs in 2024, guided by the Colorado Education Initiative’s “Roadmap for AI in K-12 Education.” This roadmap emphasizes AI as a tool to enhance learning while protecting students’ privacy and maintaining academic integrity.
St. Vrain Valley School District, for example, launched “Exploration AI,” a program training teachers to integrate tools like chatbots into lessons. Similarly, Boulder Valley School District is piloting AI in personalized learning.
Durango’s policy builds on these efforts and adds unique touches. Students use district-approved tools like School AI and Gemini for brainstorming, research and writing, but always with transparency. They learn to evaluate AI outputs for accuracy, bias, and reliability, ensuring these tools enhance rather than replace their own thinking.
Privacy is key. Students are prohibited from sharing personal information with AI platforms, and only tools compliant with Colorado’s strict child data protection laws are allowed. For younger students under 13, AI use requires additional oversight.
What about concerns over cheating? Durango addresses this head-on, requiring students to acknowledge AI’s role in assignments, much like citing a source. The district emphasizes that while AI can spark creativity, critical thinking and effort remain at the core of learning.
Durango’s forward-thinking approach reflects a broader trend in Colorado schools: embracing AI while upholding high academic standards. By integrating tools thoughtfully, districts like Durango, St. Vrain and Boulder Valley demonstrate AI’s potential as a powerful ally in education.
At the heart of Durango’s policy is a commitment to preparing students for an AI-driven world while staying true to the values of the Portrait of a Graduate: critical thinking, ethical behavior, collaboration and adaptability. Teachers receive professional development, and the policy will be reviewed annually to keep pace with technological advances.
Our students aren’t “outsourcing” their learning to machines. They’re learning to use AI responsibly, understanding both its potential and limitations. By the time they graduate, they’ll be equipped to navigate a digital world with integrity and confidence.
AI isn’t about replacing effort; it’s about reimagining how we learn and prepare for tomorrow. And Durango students are leading the way.
Karla Sluis is public information officer at Durango School District 9-R. To read the district’s “Generative Artificial Intelligence Guidelines,” visit https://tinyurl.com/4xu2x6e6. For questions or more information, email info@durangoschools.org.
