Artificial Intelligence in Harnett County Schools
Supporting students and staff with responsible AI integration in education. Enhancing teaching and learning while maintaining the essential role of teachers in guiding students and fostering critical thinking skills.
Explore AI Resources
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Technology That Performs Human Tasks
AI technology performs tasks usually done by humans, with generative AI creating content such as text, audio, and images from existing information. Modern AI systems use machine learning algorithms that analyze patterns in data to make predictions, solve problems, and continuously improve performance. These systems range from simple rule-based programs to sophisticated neural networks that can mimic human cognitive functions.
Educational Transformation
GenAI offers personalized educational experiences that enhance student creativity, problem solving, and critical thinking skills aligned with Portrait of a Graduate. AI-powered platforms can adapt to individual learning styles, providing customized content that addresses specific needs and challenges. This personalization helps students engage more deeply with material, work at their own pace, and develop the 21st-century skills needed for future success in an increasingly digital world.
Teacher Support
AI tools increase efficiency in daily tasks like lesson planning, grading, and resource creation, allowing educators to focus more on individual student needs. By automating routine administrative work, AI frees up valuable time that teachers can dedicate to meaningful student interactions and instructional innovation. These tools can provide real-time analytics on student performance, helping teachers identify learning gaps and adjust their teaching strategies accordingly, while still maintaining the irreplaceable human connection that is fundamental to education.
Ethical Considerations
As AI becomes more prevalent in education, important ethical questions arise about privacy, bias, and appropriate implementation. Responsible AI integration requires careful attention to data security, algorithmic fairness, and maintaining human oversight. Educators must help students understand both the capabilities and limitations of AI systems, teaching them to be critical consumers of AI-generated content while developing their own unique human skills.
Student Use Guidelines by Age
Following are age-appropriate guidelines for student AI use in Harnett County Schools. These recommendations are designed to protect student privacy while fostering responsible AI skills development.
Under Age 13
Most AI tools are not COPPA-compliant for independent use by students under 13. Teachers should input prompts while students analyze responses using approved resources like NCWiseOwl.
Elementary school teachers should:
  • Demonstrate AI tools as a whole-class activity
  • Pre-screen all AI-generated content before sharing with students
  • Guide students to evaluate AI responses critically
  • Use AI primarily as a supplemental resource, not a replacement for traditional learning
Approved resources for all grades:
  • Canva (teacher-supervised only)
  • Adobe Express (with teacher accounts)
  • Cur.live (district-approved access)
  • NCWiseOwl database tools
  • ClassroomQ assistant (teacher use only)
Ages 13 and Over
Starting January 2025, high school students will access Magic Studio in Canva for guided AI exploration in a safe environment.
Middle and high school students should:
  • Use AI tools only with explicit teacher permission
  • Understand when AI use is appropriate vs. when independent work is required
  • Learn to verify AI-generated content with reliable sources
  • Properly cite AI assistance in their work according to district guidelines
  • Follow all digital citizenship principles when using AI tools
Additional resources for middle school:
  • Magic School
  • Boost Student
  • Explora Teen (via NCWiseOwl)
  • Khan Academy AI resources
Additional resources for high school:
  • Career Explorer AI
  • Research Assistant Pro
  • World Language Tutor
  • College Essay Review Tool (teacher supervised)
Teachers are encouraged to provide age-appropriate AI literacy lessons to help students understand both the capabilities and limitations of artificial intelligence technologies.
Benefits of AI in Education

Enhanced Learning
Personalized, adaptive instruction
Efficiency
Streamlined administrative tasks
Accessibility
Inclusive learning for all students
Innovation
Creative content and interactive materials
AI adapts to each learner's unique needs by analyzing strengths and areas for growth. It delivers differentiated content, provides real-time feedback, and supports self-paced learning while reducing administrative burdens for teachers.
In the area of Enhanced Learning, AI algorithms can track student progress and automatically adjust difficulty levels to keep students in their optimal learning zone. This creates engagement through customized learning pathways that address individual learning styles, preferences, and pace of understanding.
For Efficiency, AI tools help teachers automate routine tasks like grading multiple-choice assessments, tracking attendance, and generating progress reports. This time-saving technology allows educators to redirect their energy toward more meaningful interactions with students and thoughtful curriculum development.
Regarding Accessibility, AI-powered tools provide text-to-speech, speech-to-text, and translation features that break down barriers for diverse learners. Students with different abilities, language backgrounds, or learning challenges can access and engage with educational content more effectively, promoting equity in the classroom.
Finally, Innovation through AI enables the creation of immersive learning experiences through virtual reality, simulation, and gamification. These tools make complex concepts more tangible and help students visualize abstract ideas, fostering deeper understanding and creativity in problem-solving approaches.
Recommended AI Tools for Staff
These district-approved AI tools enhance instruction, streamline tasks, and foster creativity in your classroom environment:
Productivity & Instruction Tools
  • Brisk Teaching: Generate lesson plans, worksheets, and assessments aligned with curriculum standards. Customize content for different learning levels and save hours of preparation time.
  • Boost Student: Analyze student performance data to identify knowledge gaps and provide personalized learning recommendations. Create differentiated activities based on individual student needs.
  • MagicSchool AI: Convert complex topics into age-appropriate explanations, generate discussion questions, and create interactive activities that engage diverse learners.
Creativity & Content Creation
  • Curipod: Design interactive presentations with embedded quizzes, polls, and collaborative activities to increase student engagement and check for understanding.
  • Canva with Magic Studio: Quickly create professional-looking visual materials with AI-assisted design tools. Generate images, resize graphics, and produce classroom materials that capture student attention.
Research & Content Management
  • Perplexity.ai: Access real-time, accurate information for lesson planning and student research projects. Verify facts and find credible sources to support classroom instruction.
  • Diffit.me: Simplify content management by organizing resources, tracking versions, and facilitating collaboration between educators across departments and grade levels.
All tools have been vetted for data privacy compliance and are appropriate for educational settings. Staff training sessions on these resources will be available throughout the school year.
Best Practices for Educators

Explore and Evaluate First
Understand features before implementation. Test AI tools thoroughly in your own planning process before introducing them to students. Become familiar with limitations and appropriate use cases to ensure meaningful integration.
Model Ethical Use
Support, not replace, critical thinking. Demonstrate responsible AI usage by showing students when and how AI can enhance learning while emphasizing the importance of human judgment, creativity, and analytical skills. Create opportunities for students to evaluate AI-generated content critically.
Vet All AI Content
Check for accuracy, bias, and hallucinations. Review all AI-generated materials before sharing with students, verifying facts against reliable sources. Be particularly vigilant about potential biases or inappropriate content that might appear in responses, especially with younger learners.
Use the Five S Model to create strong prompts that generate quality results from AI tools:
  • Set the Scene: Provide comprehensive context about your instructional goals, student needs, and curriculum requirements. Include grade level, subject area, and any specific learning standards you're addressing.
  • Be Specific: Define clear objectives for what you want the AI to generate. Request particular formats, difficulty levels, or instructional approaches that align with your teaching style and student needs.
  • Simplify: Use concise language that avoids ambiguity. Break complex requests into manageable components to ensure the AI understands exactly what you need.
  • Structure: Organize your prompt logically with a clear sequence of instructions. Consider using numbered lists or bullet points for multi-part requests to help the AI process your needs systematically.
  • Share: Communicate expectations with students about how and when AI tools are being used in their learning. Create transparency about the role of AI in generating or evaluating content and establish classroom norms for appropriate AI usage.
Remember that AI should enhance your teaching practice, not replace your professional judgment. The most effective AI implementation occurs when educators maintain the human connection with students while leveraging technology to improve efficiency and expand learning opportunities.
AI Stoplight Guidelines
Red Light
No AI tools permitted for this task. Students must complete work independently using traditional methods.
  • Examples: formal assessments, standardized tests, skill demonstrations, original creative writing
  • Purpose: Ensures authentic evaluation of student knowledge and abilities without technological assistance
  • Teacher role: Clearly mark assignments as "Red Light" in advance and monitor for compliance
Yellow Light
AI may be used for editing and feedback only. Initial content creation must be done by the student.
  • Examples: essay revisions, checking grammar, suggesting improvements to already-written work
  • Purpose: Develops students' ability to leverage AI as an editing tool while maintaining ownership of ideas
  • Teacher role: Provide guidelines about what specific editing functions are permitted
Green Light
AI use for creation and editing is fully allowed. Students can utilize AI tools throughout the entire process.
  • Examples: brainstorming sessions, research assistance, collaborative projects, creative explorations
  • Purpose: Teaches responsible AI use as a productivity and creativity enhancement tool
  • Teacher role: Guide students in creating effective prompts and evaluating AI outputs
These guidelines help teachers and students clearly understand when and how AI tools are appropriate for classroom use. By implementing this stoplight system, educators can create balanced learning environments that both protect academic integrity and prepare students for a world where AI is increasingly prevalent. Students learn important distinctions about when to rely on their own abilities and when to appropriately leverage technological assistance.
Data Privacy and Security
Protecting student information and maintaining data security is essential when integrating AI tools in our educational environment. All staff must understand and adhere to the following privacy guidelines to ensure compliance with district policies and federal regulations including FERPA and COPPA.
What personal information should never be shared with AI tools?
Never input personally identifiable information (PII) into AI chatbots or open platforms, including full names, student IDs, home addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, social security numbers, birth dates, or photos of students. Even when using district-approved AI tools, avoid uploading graded assignments with student names visible or sharing specific details that could identify individual students or their families.
How does the district monitor student online safety?
The district uses platforms like GoGuardian to monitor internet activity, track browsing behavior, and provide real-time alerts to staff when students access inappropriate content or AI platforms outside the "Green Light" list. Bark monitors school-issued accounts for signs of bullying, threats, or mental health concerns by scanning emails, documents, and chat messages. Our IT department conducts weekly audits of AI tool usage across the district network and generates reports for administrators to identify potential misuse or security concerns.
What are best practices for AI privacy and security?
Use aliases or anonymized data when designing prompts (e.g., "Student A" instead of actual names). Avoid uploading identifiable student data including assignments with names visible. Regularly audit AI platform usage logs to ensure compliance with district policies. Participate in annual privacy training provided by the Technology Department each August. Only use district-approved AI tools that have signed data privacy agreements with Harnett County Schools. Report any suspected data breaches immediately to your school's Technology Facilitator and the district Data Privacy Officer at [email protected].
What should I do if I suspect unauthorized AI usage?
If you observe students using unauthorized AI tools or suspect inappropriate AI use:
  • Document the incident with specific details (date, time, observed behavior)
  • Secure any evidence if possible (screenshots, document copies)
  • Report the incident to your school administrator and Technology Facilitator
  • For serious violations involving personal data, also notify the district Data Privacy Officer
  • Follow up with appropriate educational interventions about responsible AI use
Remember that the goal is to educate students about proper technology use rather than simply enforce punitive measures.
What legal regulations govern AI use with student data?
Several key regulations impact how we use AI with student information:
  • FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act): Protects the privacy of student education records and applies to all schools receiving federal funding
  • COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act): Regulates online services directed to children under 13, requiring parental consent for data collection
  • PPRA (Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment): Gives parents rights regarding surveys, analysis, or evaluation of students
  • State regulations: North Carolina has specific requirements regarding student data protection that must be followed
All AI tools approved by the district have been vetted for compliance with these regulations.
How should we handle AI-generated content in student work?
Educators should establish clear expectations regarding:
  • Citation requirements for AI assistance (following the district's academic integrity policy)
  • Appropriate attribution methods for AI-generated content
  • Documentation of human vs. AI contributions in collaborative work
  • Retention of drafts to demonstrate student original thinking
  • Verification processes to ensure work meets learning objectives
Always reference the AI Stoplight Guidelines to determine what level of AI assistance is permitted for specific assignments.