AI Updates for Families
November 3, 2025
Our AI Guidance is here!
This essential resource below was developed collaboratively with input from students, staff, and parents, and aligns with standards from top educational organizations nationwide.
To give you the complete picture, we've included it alongside the Acceptable Use of Digital Resources policy (IJNDC, adopted January 2025) and updates to both the student and staff handbooks. Find all materials here on our AI Guidance page.
This guide is designed to provide clear direction for both students and staff on the responsible and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Holliston Public Schools community. It addresses key topics such as understanding AI, ethical considerations, and its integration into the curriculum.
What is AI Anyway? 🤔
AI is like a computer that can do smart things, like solve problems, understand language, and even create stuff! One type of AI is called a Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT). GPTs can generate text, images, and other media based on what you tell them. What you tell it is called a "prompt."
For Students 🎒
Understanding AI
This section provides a foundational understanding of AI, including definitions of key terms like Generative Pre-trained Transformers (GPTs) and prompts. It also explains why AI models can make mistakes, such as hallucinations, and discusses important concepts like algorithmic bias, potential harms, and the everyday impact of AI.
Responsible Use
To ensure safe and ethical use, students should:
Prioritize privacy: Never share personal information with AI models and be aware that user data may be used to train these models.
Focus on learning: Use AI as a tool to support your learning, not as a shortcut for completing assignments.
Check for accuracy: Always double-check information from AI. You are responsible for the accuracy of your work.
Critical Evaluation
Learn how to identify and critically evaluate AI-generated content. This includes recognizing its characteristics and assessing the reliability of the information it provides.
Cultivating Perspective
Before using AI, establish your own point of view. This practice ensures that you use AI to expand on your ideas rather than to generate them from scratch.
Environmental and Copyright Considerations
Be mindful of the broader impact of AI. This includes being aware of the significant environmental toll of generative AI (water and electricity consumption) and understanding the copyright concerns related to how AI models use and repurpose existing works.
Classroom Policies and Citation
Know your teacher's policy: Always confirm your teacher's expectations.
Cite your sources: To avoid plagiarism, you must cite any content you generate or use from AI. More specific guidance on proper citation styles for AI will be provided in the future.
Consequences
Misuse of AI will result in clear and thought-out consequences. The goal is to treat first-time mistakes as learning opportunities while maintaining clear policies to eliminate ambiguity.
For Staff 🍎
Modeling and Expectations
Model responsible behavior: Staff should demonstrate ethical and responsible use of AI for students to follow.
Set clear expectations: Provide specific guidelines for AI use in assignments. This includes outlining which types of AI are acceptable and giving concrete examples of appropriate use to reduce confusion.
Curriculum and Enforcement
Integrate AI into the curriculum: Holliston Public Schools will develop more procedures for integrating lessons about AI into the curriculum. This will cover its functionality, limitations (like bias and hallucinations), and its impact on daily life.
Enforce policies: Staff are responsible for understanding and enforcing the policies outlined in the Handbooks, Acceptable Use, and this AI Guidance.
We want to keep you informed about our careful and phased approach to introducing AI assistants to students across the district. Our goal is to ensure a secure, ethical, and educationally valuable integration that supports student learning without compromising privacy.
Starting at Holliston High: NotebookLM
NotebookLM will be rolling out to students at Holliston High School shortly. This initial phase will serve as a pilot program to help us understand the best ways to integrate AI into academic work, focusing on tools that enhance research, organization, and critical thinking. We are implementing this process with caution, emphasizing the responsible use of these powerful tools.
Our Commitment to Safety and Privacy
As with all technology used in the district, student safety and data privacy are our top priorities.
All AI tools we approve, like NotebookLM, are selected after a thorough review to ensure they meet our strict privacy and security standards.
We are establishing clear protocols to teach students what not to share with AI assistants (e.g., sensitive personal information, private student/staff data).
Training and resources have been provided to interested staff to help them guide students in using these tools ethically and effectively in the classroom.
We appreciate your support as we thoughtfully explore the potential of AI to enrich the educational experience. We will share more details and resources as we move forward.