AI Note-Takers and Recording Consent in Illinois Schools

AI note-takers are showing up in district meetings, often before anyone has decided whether they should. This two-page handout covers what to settle before an AI bot joins a meeting, with a practical resolution for each issue.

The handout covers:

• Consent to record under Illinois law, and why express consent is safer than implied consent
• Voice data, biometric privacy (BIPA), and how to vet vendors
• Student information under FERPA, the Illinois School Student Records Act, and SOPPA
• Public records, retention, and treating AI summaries as drafts
• Uninvited bots, built-in tools versus third-party bots, and recordings by parents and guests
• Rules for IEP meetings, parent conferences, and staff and leadership meetings
• A policy-building checklist and sample announcements for the start of a meeting

This is general information and not legal advice. Have district counsel review your final policy language.