Fayetteville Public Schools is revising its rules for artificial intelligence use as the district works to align its existing policy with requirements adopted under Arkansas law and by the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education.
School board members reviewed a draft of the policy Thursday, Oct. 29, and are scheduled to consider it again at the board’s November meeting. The draft is intended to establish expectations for the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence, support instructional innovation and improve operational efficiency.
State requirements drive revision
The district’s review follows Act 848 of 2025, which requires Arkansas public entities to establish policies and training requirements for employees who use artificial intelligence and automated decision-making tools. The law applies to the policies that govern technology use in public institutions, including school districts.
Claire Wilkinson, Fayetteville’s general counsel, said district leaders spent the past year developing an artificial intelligence policy before state education officials issued a separate, detailed policy with directives that districts must adopt. Fayetteville officials are now combining the district’s rules with the state requirements.
“So what we have attempted to do is merge the required DESE policy with the policy that we, you know, custom made and tailored for our district,”
Wilkinson said she continues to have questions about the state policy, including requirements involving contracts with companies that provide artificial intelligence software. The Arkansas School Boards Association also is developing a model policy that Fayetteville officials could use as they continue revising the district’s rules.
Privacy and decision-making safeguards
The draft places restrictions on the information employees may enter into artificial intelligence programs. Anyone using the technology must select a program that complies with the state’s K-12 cybersecurity policy and the Student Data Vendor Security Act.
- Confidential student and personnel information cannot be entered into public or unapproved artificial intelligence tools.
- Employees must follow the state educator code of ethics and the district’s code of ethics when using the technology.
- Artificial intelligence tools cannot be the sole basis for decisions that significantly affect students.
The privacy provisions cover both students and employees and are intended to govern how artificial intelligence programs may be used in classroom instruction and district operations. The draft also outlines expectations for selecting technology and handling information supplied to those tools.
Fayetteville’s policy will return to the School Board for additional review in November. The board’s consideration follows the state’s effort to establish common requirements for artificial intelligence use while allowing districts to tailor their policies to local operations.
