AI Toolkit

Resources for Policy Makers

Clear, actionable policy helps districts use AI responsibly. These resources support every phase of policy work, from reading the landscape to drafting and putting guidance into practice, so leaders can move from a high-level vision to practical action.

Illinois-Specific Guidelines

• Illinois AI Guidance for K-12 Education – Illinois State Board of Education (2026)
• Public Act 104-0399 (requires the ISBE AI guidance) – Illinois General Assembly (2025)
• AI Policy Labs (Illinois is a partner state) – EDSAFE AI Alliance (2026)
• Report of the Generative AI and Natural Language Processing Task Force – State of Illinois (2024)

Education-Focused AI Guidelines

• A New Direction for Students in an AI World: Prosper, Prepare, Protect – Center for Universal Education at Brookings (2026)
• AI Guidance Tracker – Code.org / TeachAI (updated 2026)
• State AI Guidance Directory – AI for Education
• Blueprint for Action: Comprehensive AI Literacy for All – EdSAFE (2025)
• A Landscape Analysis: Guidance for AI in Education – TeachAI (2025)
• AI Chatbots in Schools: A Practical Guide to Safety, Liability, and Mandated Reporting – AI Policy Lab / InnovateEDU (2025)
• A for Effort, Needs Improvement on Execution: Lessons Learned from Failures of AI EdTech Tools – Center for Democracy & Technology (2025)
• Commonsense Guardrails for Using Advanced Technology in Schools – AFT (2025)
• K-12 Generative AI Readiness Checklist – CoSN & Council of the Great City Schools
• Framework for Implementing AI into State Education Agencies – ILO Group (2024)
• Artificial Intelligence in Education – NEA (2024)
• Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Artificial Intelligence – U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights (2024)
• Policy Guidance Framework – EdSAFE
• A Guide to AI in Education – Google for Education
• Bringing AI to School: Tips for School Leaders – ISTE (2023)
• AI Integration Framework for Schools – Michigan Virtual (2023)
• Protecting Students’ Civil Rights in the Digital Age – Center for Democracy & Technology (2023)
• AI and the Future of Teaching and Learning – U.S. Department of Education (2023)
• Guidance for Generative AI in Education and Research – UNESCO (2023)
• AI and Education: Guidance for Policy Makers – UNESCO (2021)

General AI Guidelines

• National Policy Framework for AI: Legislative Recommendations – Whitehouse.gov (2026)
• Removing Barriers to American Leadership in Artificial Intelligence – Whitehouse.gov (2025)
• Bipartisan House Task Force Report on Artificial Intelligence – U.S. House of Representatives (2024)
• AI Risk Management Framework – NIST (2023)
• Bletchley Declaration – Bletchley AI Safety Summit (2023)
• National AI Strategy – GOV.UK (2021)
• Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy AI – European Commission (2019)
• Ethically Aligned Design – IEEE (2019)

Research & Landscape Surveys

• U.S. State of EdTech 2026 – CoSN (2026)
• Exploring Effective Uses of Generative AI in Education – OECD (2026)
• AI Use by Tweens and Teens – Common Sense Media (2026)
• Teens in the AI Era: Schoolwork and Skills that Matter – Common Sense Media (2026)
• Teenagers Are Divided Over AI Use for Schoolwork – Oxford University Press (2026)
• Youth, AI, and the Relationships That Shape Them – The Rithm Project (2026)
• Teachers, Students and AI: National Poll on Critical Thinking – NPR (2026)
• What Students Actually Do with an AI Tutor (Khanmigo engagement study) – Chalkbeat (2026)
• Is AI Eroding Math Skills? – The Hechinger Report (2026)
• AI Didn’t Destroy Critical Thinking. We Did. – Education Next (2026)
• AI Index Report – Stanford HAI (2025)
• What States Say About Evaluating AI in Education: Reviewing Guidance From 32 States and Puerto Rico – Digital Promise (2025)
• The State of AI in Education – Carnegie Learning (2025)
• Students, Teachers in Stride with EdTech Threats While Parents Are Left Behind – Center for Democracy & Technology (2025)
• Generative AI in K-12 Education: Challenges and Opportunities – Common Sense Media
• Tech & Society Lab – NYU Stern

Resources for District Leaders

District leaders need clear frameworks and real examples to guide thoughtful implementation.

Use these vetted guidance documents, sample policies, vetting tools, family communication pieces, and district exemplars to support strategic planning, staff development, and curriculum alignment.

AI Frameworks & Guidance

• AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit – TeachAI (2025)
• AI Readiness Framework – aiEDU
• Empowering Learners for the Age of AI – OECD (2025)
• AI Literacy Framework – Digital Promise (2024)
• AI Toolkit for District Leaders – Common Sense Media (2025)
• A Guide to AI in Schools: Perspectives for the Perplexed – MIT (2025)
• AI Learning Priorities for All K-12 Students – CSTA & AI4K12 (2025)
• AI Competency Framework for Teachers – UNESCO (2024)
• AI Competency Framework for Students – UNESCO (2024)
• The SAFE Benchmark Framework – EdSAFE AI Alliance (2024)
• ADAPT: A Practical Framework for AI Integration – TCEA
• Bloom’s Taxonomy Revisited – Oregon State University (2024)
• Professional Development for Teachers in the Age of AI – European Schoolnet Academy (2024)
• Grade Band Progression Charts – AI4K12 (2021)
• The Ethical Framework for AI in Education – Institute for Ethical AI in Education (2021)

Vetting AI Tools & Protecting Student Data

• AI Risk Assessments (independent ratings of AI products) – Common Sense Media
• Rubric for Evaluating AI Tools for Schools – Control Alt Achieve
• AI Tools and Student Data Privacy – Control Alt Achieve
• Guidance on AI Detectors – AI for Education (2026)

District and School Policies, Procedures, and Handbooks

• Sample Guidance on Staff Use of Generative AI for K-12 School Districts – Michigan Virtual
• K-12 AI Policy & Implementation – AI4MI
• AI Instruction & Assessment Guidance – AI4MI
• AI FAIR Use Toolkit (assignment-level AI use expectations) – ETLA (2026)
• Sample Student Agreement on the Use of AI – TeachAI (2024)
• Use of Artificial Intelligence, Model Student Handbook – Illinois Principals Association (IPA)

Communicating with Families & Community

• Sample AI Readiness Communications – LTC
• Guardian’s Guide to AI – Google for Education
• AI Literacy Communication Toolkit – LA County Office of Education
• AI in Education Glossary – AI4MI

Exemplar Districts

• AI Guidance and Student AI Responsible Use – Triad Community Unit #2
• Generative AI Policy – Indian Prairie #204
• AI at CPS (guidebook and student guidelines) – Chicago Public Schools
• AI Guidelines – Evanston/Skokie District 65
• Parent Student Handbook – Ridgewood Community High School District 234
• AI Policy – McLean County Unit District No. 5
• AI Tools – Olympia CUSD 16
• An AI Musical – Barrington School District 220
• AI Guidelines – Council Bluffs Community School District (Iowa)
• AI Guidebook – Houston Independent School District
• Foundational Beliefs on AI Use – Met High School

Books for Leaders

• AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters – Vickie F. Echols
• Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI – Ethan Mollick

Resources for Teachers

Strong policy only works when the people carrying it out feel prepared.

This section gives teachers background reading, ready-to-use lessons, prompt guides, vetted tools, and practical strategies for teaching, assessing, and talking with students about AI.

Background

• AI in 5 Minutes – aiEDU
• What is AI? (see p. 2) – ISTE
• How AI Literacy Changes Student Use of AI – AI for Education (2026)
• Assigning AI: Seven Ways of Using AI in Class – Ethan Mollick, One Useful Thing

AI Frameworks for the Classroom

• AI Literacy Framework – Digital Promise (2024)
• AI Competency Framework for Teachers – UNESCO (2024)
• AI Competency Framework for Students – UNESCO (2024)
• AI Learning Priorities for All K-12 Students – CSTA & AI4K12 (2025)
• Grade Band Progression Charts – AI4K12 (2021)
• Bloom’s Taxonomy Revisited – Oregon State University (2024)
• AI and English Language Arts Framework – NCTE

Prompt Writing Guides

• AI Prompt Writing Guide for Educators – AI for Education
• GenAI Chatbot Prompt Library for Educators – AI for Education
• The Five “S” Model for Prompting – AI for Education
• Top 10 Components of the Perfect AI Prompt – Control Alt Achieve
• AI Prompt Libraries for Educators – Control Alt Achieve
• Gemini Prompting Guide – Google Workspace

Student Lessons

• AI Literacy Lessons for Grades K-12 – Common Sense Education
• Two Truths & AI (K-12 digital literacy game) – Common Sense Education
• Day of AI Lessons – MIT
• RAISE K-12 AI Literacy Units – MIT
• Dancing with AI – MIT
• AI Pedagogy Project – metaLAB (at) Harvard
• Classroom-Ready Resources About AI for Teaching (CRAFT) – Stanford
• AI Snapshots: 180 Warmups – aiEDU
• AI Projects – aiEDU
• AI Project Dashboard – aiEDU
• AI Literacy Curriculum Hub – Google
• Applied Digital Skills: Generative AI Lessons – Google
• Teaching About AI – News Literacy Project
• Hands-On AI Projects for the Classroom – ISTE+ASCD
• Teaching AI Ethics – Leon Furze
• How AI Works – Code.org
• Talk and Learn AI with Code.org – Code.org
• Experience AI – Raspberry Pi Foundation & Google DeepMind
• Machine Learning for Kids – IBM / Dale Lane
• Most Likely Machine (how language models predict) – Artefact
• AI to the Rescue: Finding Lost Pets (unplugged, K-5) – The Tech Interactive
• Real or AI Quiz: Can You Tell the Difference? – Britannica Education
• Resource Directory – National AI Literacy Day

Teacher AI Tools

• Claude for Teachers – Anthropic
• ChatGPT for Teachers – OpenAI
• Gemini Study Notebooks – Google
• NotebookLM – Google
• EduGems (Gemini Gems for educators) – Eric Curts
• Brisk Teaching (Chrome extension) – Brisk
• Diffit (leveled readings and resources) – Diffit
• MagicSchool – MagicSchool
• Teacher Hive (library of teacher-built AI apps) – Teacher Hive
• Snorkl (student think-aloud feedback) – Snorkl
• Hand Talk (speech/text to ASL) – Hand Talk

Student-Facing AI Tools

• MagicStudent – MagicSchool
• SchoolAI – SchoolAI
• Khanmigo – Khan Academy
• Class Companion – Class Companion
• Mizou – Mizou
• Skill Struck – Skill Struck

Instruction, Assessment & Academic Integrity

• AI FAIR Use Toolkit (assignment-level AI use expectations) – ETLA (2026)
• Classroom Guidelines for Student AI Use (adaptable template) – Control Alt Achieve
• A Decision Tree to Guide Student AI Use – Edutopia
• Guidance on AI Detectors – AI for Education (2026)
• AI Detection Doesn’t Work. Here’s the Evidence and What to Do Instead – Adam Sparks
• Testing of Detection Tools for AI-Generated Text – Weber-Wulff et al., arXiv (2023)
• Claude’s Watermark Proves It Was Used, Not Who Wrote It – AI Educator Tools (2026)
• Draftback (replay the writing process in a Google Doc) – Chrome Web Store
• Peer & AI Review + Reflection (PAIRR) – UC Davis
• Guided Notes: Supporting or Stifling Learning? – Catlin Tucker (2026)
• How to Use ChatGPT as an Example Machine – Cult of Pedagogy
• Example Syllabi Policies for AI Generative Tools – Crowdsourced collection (Google Docs)

Citing AI-Generated Content

• MLA Style: Generative AI – MLA
• APA Style: ChatGPT – APA
• Chicago Style: Generative AI – Chicago Manual of Style

Professional Learning

Keep building skills on your own schedule.

Start with LTC’s free courses and live workshops, then explore trusted courses from partners and a short list of newsletters and podcasts that make it easier to stay current.

LTC Courses & Events

• Artificial Intelligence 101 for Schools – LTC
• AI Plagiarism Playbook – LTC
• Google Gemini Basics – LTC
• In-Person and Virtual Workshops – LTC

Free Courses from Partners

• An Essential Guide to AI for Educators – AI for Education
• AI Basics for K-12 Teachers – Common Sense Education
• AI 101 for Teachers – Code.org
• Teacher AI Literacy Training – Google for Education (2026)
• Google Classroom in Gemini: Educator Guide – Google for Education (2026)
• Learn AI Fundamentals with Google AI Essentials – Google
• AI for Educators – Microsoft
• Classroom Toolkit: Unlocking Generative AI Safely and Responsibly – Microsoft
• Educators AI Certification – Khanmigo
• Experience AI Teacher Training – Raspberry Pi Foundation
• Asynchronous PD – National AI Literacy Day

Stay Current with Newsletters & Podcasts

• One Useful Thing (newsletter) – Ethan Mollick
• Rhetorica (newsletter) – Marc Watkins
• AI for Education Blog – AI for Education
• AI Resources Collection – Control Alt Achieve
• Class Disrupted (podcast) – Michael Horn & Diane Tavenner
• Hard Fork (podcast) – The New York Times

Books

• Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI – Ethan Mollick
• AI for Educators – Matt Miller
• AI for School Leaders: 62 Ways to Lighten Your Workload and Focus on What Matters – Vickie F. Echols