Venus Independent School District (ISD) in Venus, Texas is setting a new standard in AI adoption for K-12 education. By creating an AI framework and guidelines for staff and students, Venus ISD exemplifies how schools can seamlessly integrate cutting-edge technology while prioritizing student safety and ethics. 

This blog shares how Venus ISD began their AI journey, gives a look at the framework and guidelines they’ve created, and shares how they are looking at AI in general.  

Vetting AI Tools with an AI Committee

The journey began with the formation of an AI committee comprising teachers, administrators, and other key stakeholders. This group was tasked with researching various AI tools for education. Their mission: to identify an AI solution that aligns with educational goals while ensuring compliance with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

“In our vetting process, data privacy was the most important feature we were looking for,” Victoria Fudge, the Instructional Technology Coordinator at Venus ISD, said. “We also wanted AI to cite its sources and for it to be FERPA compliant. It was a challenge to find a tool that was safe. You have to be really careful vetting AI tools.” 

Pilot Testing Safe AI Tools in the Classroom

The committee undertook an evaluation of potential tools and selected Chat for Schools due to its robust features, built in AI curriculum, and FERPA compliance. To ensure thorough vetting, the district chose two teachers to pilot the platform in their classrooms for a semester.

These teachers went deep into the functionality and potential of Specialized AI tutors. They engaged in Skill Struck webinars to learn about the power of AI tutors and how to best use them in the classroom. This experience empowered them to effectively test and integrate AI tutors within their teaching methodologies, providing valuable insights for the district.

“The [AI tutor gave my students the] ability to quickly and efficiently dig into science topics and allowed my students to discover which topics they really had an interest in,” Mr. Corder, Science Department Chair at Venus High School, said. “This allowed me to regroup students according to their interests, and because they were actually interested in their chosen topics, they developed a passion for them, making them really desire to share what they learned. This led to great presentations that I hadn't ever thought about teaching. One group, teaching Light and Optics, used a lid to a Slurpee cup and their cell phone to create a holographic projector.  I would have never looked for that!”

Learn about the AI tutors Venus ISD tried with their students. 

Getting Teacher Buy-In with Training 

By the semester's end, Venus ISD had gathered enough data to make an informed decision to adopt Chat for Schools in one of their high schools, Venus High School. The administrative staff developed comprehensive PDF documents outlining AI guidelines for teachers and staff, ensuring each staff member felt comfortable with the AI adoption and its ethical use in the classroom . 

“We did an overview for 45-min of the history of the AI committee we formed, why and what we are doing, who is in it, and what we found,” Victoria said. “Then we went through the guidelines we had made for the staff and showed them the platform. Some staff members were excited, some were hesitant. For the hesitant staff, we had our AI trial teachers show how AI can be used with students. After teachers could see the use of it in the classroom, they were excited to give it a try.” 

The guidelines walked educators through ethical AI usage and student safety protocols, setting the stage for responsible and effective AI integration. 

“A social studies teacher was very hesitant,” Victoria said. “He asked, ‘How can I do primary sources?’ I explained that AI tutors can get information to students faster so they can get to critical thinking. It actually allows them to go deeper into the knowledge. 

“AI is kind of like a toll road. Do you want to be stuck in traffic on the highway or use the toll road? AI is just a faster way to get to where you want to go. Now, the social studies teacher is more understanding. Having our AI trial teachers has also been the biggest help as they work through ideas for how to use AI in the classroom with other teachers.” 

Ongoing Support and Engagement

The administrative team has been instrumental in driving AI adoption, dedicating time to advocate for the benefits of AI tutors. They continue to work tirelessly to get every teacher on board, ensuring widespread buy-in and usage.

To further solidify their commitment, Venus ISD mandated that every student complete the first three AI courses built into C4S. This initiative ensures that both students and teachers understand the risks and opportunities associated with AI, promoting informed and responsible use.

Building for the Future

Looking ahead, Venus ISD plans to develop additional resources to support teachers. These resources include actionable steps for addressing inappropriate messages from students, with a tiered approach based on frequency. Additionally, they aim to continuously monitor AI tutor usage through platform data and anecdotal feedback, ensuring ongoing improvement and adaptation.

Venus ISD’s structured and inclusive approach to AI adoption is a shining example of educational innovation. By involving key stakeholders, conducting thorough evaluations, and providing robust training and resources, they have set a blueprint for successful AI integration. Their journey underscores the importance of thoughtful implementation and community engagement, paving the way for other districts to follow suit. This exceptional case of AI adoption promises to inspire and drive further expansions, proving that with the right framework, the future of AI in K-12 education is bright.

Learn more about Skill Struck’s Chat for Schools at www.chatforschools.com.