Article Text

ChatGPT is moving deeper into Fairfax County Public Schools after the division added a teacher-focused version of the artificial intelligence tool to its staff resources on Dec. 2.

FCPS is one of 16 school divisions nationwide piloting ChatGPT for Teachers. The rollout follows discussions between FCPS and OpenAI that continued through last year before a contract was finalized. Teachers can use the application at no cost through June 2027.

School-based technology specialist Bridget Donoghue said educators can use the tool to plan lessons and practice assessments. Its voice capabilities could also help teachers communicate with families who speak other languages or regional dialects.

“One really cool feature that it has is you can speak to it, and it speaks back,” Donoghue said. She described a scenario in which ChatGPT could translate a conversation with a Spanish-speaking parent using a Mexican dialect.

The launch builds on FCPS’s earlier adoption of AI technology, including making Google Gemini available to staff at the end of 2024.

FCPS Chief Information Technology Officer Gautam Sethi said offering multiple options allows employees to choose the technology that works best for them. Because many people already use ChatGPT outside work, he said FCPS saw an opportunity to provide a familiar tool in a safe, secure and free environment.

ChatGPT for Teachers differs from the standard public version. It includes colleague collaboration features, teacher-specific onboarding and administrative controls.

FCPS technology specialists also favored the product because it is an enterprise service, giving the school division greater control over privacy and security. The platform complies with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects student education records, and includes a student data privacy agreement.

“If all our teachers were using free public accounts, they wouldn’t have the same privacy controls, security controls or audits,” Sethi said. He added that FCPS wants employees to use trusted tools within a controlled environment.

The expansion of AI in education continues to raise questions about how heavily teachers and students should rely on the technology.

Donoghue said AI can help streamline tasks, but cautioned against allowing it to erode critical-thinking skills.

Some educators are already testing practical classroom uses. Learning disabilities teacher Ky Parrott said ChatGPT has helped with examining how to structure and word papers for particular classes, especially for educators working across several grade levels.

FCPS officials hope that giving teachers access to more AI tools will ultimately help students learn to navigate technology that is becoming increasingly common.

“Our goal is to make sure that we can get universal AI literacy for all, and that starts with our staff,” Sethi said. He said teachers are positioned to help students understand how to use AI safely, responsibly and ethically.