Sarasota County Schools is proposing revisions to its artificial intelligence policies that would require parental opt-in, strengthen student-data protections and preserve limits on using AI instead of original schoolwork.

The School Board approved revisions to Policy 4.24, Artificial Intelligence Acceptable Use, and Policy 3.43, Internet Safety, for advertising Oct. 20. Public notices posted Oct. 21 say final School Board approval is still to be determined.

The proposals were originated by Chris Parenteau, the district’s supervisor of public affairs and policy, in conjunction with Superintendent Terry Connor.

Requirements for students

The proposed AI policy says students may not use AI if their teacher or school has forbidden it or a parent has not opted them in. Authorized use should primarily support brainstorming, drafting, practice and feedback, rather than replace original student work.

The restriction against using AI to produce final work also appeared in the district’s 2025 policy proposal. It should not be understood as a wholly new restriction introduced this month.

Students would have to acknowledge and cite AI-generated text, images or multimedia. Teachers must permit students to demonstrate mastery without AI, including through handwritten drafts, oral presentations or reflection on AI use. Teachers may also require drafts or other demonstrations to verify student authorship. Violations would fall under the district’s academic honesty policy.

The proposal expressly allows AI use consistent with a student’s documented accommodations. Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and dual-enrollment courses may impose additional restrictions.

Staff oversight and training

AI could not make decisions without human review, including decisions involving grading, evaluations, promotions, discipline, threat assessments, counseling referrals or Exceptional Student Education referrals.

The proposed policy says that no later than July 1, 2027, teachers and administrators must complete district training on AI risks, limitations, privacy, safety and legal compliance before using a new AI instructional tool with students.

Student data and approved tools

Tools approved for students could not sell, monetize, profile or commercially exploit student data to train commercial AI models. Vendors that store and process student data in the United States would receive priority.

The policy prohibits undisclosed behavioral monitoring, social scoring and psychological profiling. Platforms selected as supplemental academic resources would have to operate on closed systems, provide teacher training, align reading and math tutoring to Florida’s B.E.S.T. standards, and retain student-interaction records for at least 30 days to enable parental access under education-records requirements.

The companion internet-safety proposal prohibits AI designed to meet students’ social or emotional needs, simulate friendship or emotional relationships, or use relationship-building features to prolong interaction. It also retains restrictions on TikTok and successor platforms on school-owned devices and devices connected to school-provided internet.

Policy 3.43 would require parents to receive information about approved AI tools and a substantively comparable non-AI alternative if they do not opt their child in.

Public notice and hearing requests

The Oct. 21 notices provide 21 days to request a public hearing. They also provide 21 days for written submissions concerning estimated regulatory costs or lower-cost alternatives; the notices do not expressly describe that period as a general written-comment deadline.

For information about the proposed rules or submitting a hearing request, contact Chris Parenteau at Sarasota County Schools, 1960 Landings Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34231. The notices list 941-927-9000 as the contact telephone number.