AI Governance for K-12 Leaders: From AI Experimentation to Responsible Adoption

AI is already entering school districts through instruction, operations, communications, and purchased products — often without being labeled an AI decision. The leadership question is no longer whether AI will be used, but where, when, and under what conditions its use is appropriate.

This practical, vendor-agnostic session gives board members and district leaders a framework for governing AI responsibly. Participants will examine why policy alone is not governance, how national guidance from CoSN and ISTE is converging on a common set of leadership responsibilities, and how to ground local rules in durable principles.

The session then moves from principle to practice: three governance models scaled to district capacity, a five-lens decision framework for evaluating any proposed AI use, proportionate oversight tiers, clear ownership across leadership functions, and a five-stage adoption roadmap.

Leaders leave with three commitments — know what is in use, define responsible use, and act through a repeatable process — and one concrete next decision to bring back to their district.