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Fairfax County Public Schools is moving toward a more detailed policy governing artificial intelligence in classrooms, with school board members calling for clearer safeguards, parental involvement and age-appropriate limits.

The policy remains months away from final approval. FCPS staff have worked on the proposal since October as artificial intelligence—particularly generative tools such as ChatGPT—becomes increasingly common in education.

AI is already present in FCPS classrooms. Adobe Express, Google Storybook and Google’s LM are approved for staff use, and the school system is piloting ChatGPT for Teachers.

“They’re using this anyway,” Franconia District Representative Marcia St. John-Cunning said during the school board governance committee’s March 17 meeting. “Our job is to teach them how to use it responsibly.”

Superintendent Michelle Reid presented an initial draft in February that outlined the board’s philosophy, defined relevant terms and assigned responsibilities for training, safety and acceptable use.

A revised version presented in March removed the earlier proposal’s entire procedures section. In its place, the draft broadly directed the superintendent to establish guidelines, track developments in AI and oversee a rolling staff review every two years.

Hunter Mill District board member Melanie Meren offered an alternative containing more specific provisions for student safety, professional development and the evaluation of technology used in instruction. Her draft would also prohibit FCPS-provided access to generative AI for students age 12 and younger.

“It’s become very apparent to me that the only way this is going to move forward with equity and quality is through professional development,” Meren said.

Mason District Representative Ricardy Anderson said the superintendent’s version needed more detail to address public concerns, including provisions covering developmental appropriateness and parents.

The committee chose Meren’s draft as the basis for further discussion. Board members will review it and submit feedback over the next month while FCPS staff collect additional information about possible regulations.

Dranesville District Representative Robyn Lady described the proposal as aspirational but said employees responsible for implementing the policy must also have input.

The governance committee is scheduled to meet again April 14. Members agreed to hold additional meetings in April and May in hopes of completing a proposed policy by the end of the school year.

Any final proposal from the committee will still need approval from the full Fairfax County School Board.