Generative AI in Bend-La Pine Schools

Using AI within an educational technology ecosystem that centers relationships and mental health, robust pedagogy and practice, and high-quality instructional materials, creates opportunities for more equitable and culturally responsive learning opportunities for students.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms (PDF)

Oregon Department of Education

What is AI?

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Education

Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to computer systems that are designed to perform tasks that typically require human thinking. These tasks can include recognizing patterns, understanding language, analyzing information, or making predictions. Many families already interact with AI in everyday life through tools like voice assistants, navigation apps, streaming recommendations, and online customer support.

In schools, AI can support learning and teaching in a variety of ways. For example, it may help personalize practice activities, provide feedback, assist with language translation, improve accessibility features such as speech-to-text, or help teachers organize and analyze information. AI systems do not think or understand in the way people do; they identify patterns in large amounts of data to generate responses.

What Is Generative AI (GenAI)?

Generative AI (GenAI) is a specific type of AI that can create new content. Instead of simply analyzing information, generative AI tools can produce text, images, audio, video, or computer code based on a user’s prompt or request. Examples include tools that help brainstorm ideas, draft writing, create images, critique work, or summarize information.

GenAI generates responses based on patterns learned during training. Because of this, its outputs may sometimes be incomplete, biased, or inaccurate. For that reason, students are taught to use GenAI thoughtfully—checking information carefully, citing sources when required, and following classroom and district guidelines.

Our Approach

Digital tools, including AI, are used to support instruction, creativity, critical thinking, and responsible digital citizenship. Teachers determine when and how AI tools are used in their classrooms, and students are guided in using these tools ethically, safely, and appropriately for their age and grade level.

As technology continues to evolve, we remain committed to helping students build the skills they need to think critically, solve problems, and use digital tools responsibly in school and beyond.

Our Commitment

Because emerging technologies are rapidly evolving, instructional best practice is often discovered in real-time. Bend-La Pine Schools is committed to a responsive approach to technology integration by using the following:

Continuous Feedback Loops: We gather input from our teachers, students, and community to identify both the benefits and the emerging risks of these tools.
Dynamic Practice: As new guidance and research emerges from the Oregon Department of Education and national research partners, we will update our practices to ensure they remain safe, effective, and aligned with our goal of Educating Thriving Students.

A Guide to GenAI in Our Schools

Intentional. Ethical. Student Centered. Bend-La Pine teachers integrate generative AI with purpose and care—enhancing instruction, personalizing learning, and strengthening student thinking. AI supports learning. It never replaces it.

Teachers: AI as a Catalyst for Instructional Excellence

Teachers advance instructional practice through intentional, measured integration of generative AI. Aligned to our strategic commitment to strengthening teaching and learning, we use this technology as a lever for professional growth. Teachers may use GenAI to:

Strengthen Mentorship

Personalize Learning

Design Authentic Assessment

Support Mastery

Students : AI to Support Learning

When students engage with AI, it is through intentional, teacher-guided use of district-approved platforms. Aligned with our commitment to safe, effective, and meaningful learning experiences, these tools are selected to support instruction while maintaining strong standards for student privacy and safety. All other GenAI tools are categorically restricted and inaccessible on student devices.

When AI is part of classroom learning, students use approved tools to:

Enhance Creativity
Support Skill Development
Practice Critical Thinking

Below is a list of GenAI-enabled tools currently available for student use within our district, based on grade level and instructional context.

MagicSchool (MagicStudent)

MagicStudent, a feature in MagicSchool, is the district’s adopted generative AI platform for student use. It operates in a closed system, meaning responses are generated from content within the platform, not open internet searches. Teachers create and manage student “rooms,” control available tools, and can monitor student prompts and responses. Students access MagicStudent only through teacher-created rooms.

Canva Magic Studio

Canva Magic Studio, part of Canva for Education, includes AI-powered design tools that help students and teachers create written and visual content efficiently. Features such as Magic Write, Magic Media, and Magic Animate support brainstorming, image creation, and simple animations for classroom projects.

Adobe Express Info

Adobe Express is a web-based creative tool that allows students to design graphics, videos, presentations, web pages, and podcasts using templates and drag-and-drop tools. It includes AI-powered image generation with age-appropriate content controls designed for educational use.

Grades K-2

Grades 3 - 5

In grades 3-5, GenAI may be used at times by students through the district-approved platform, MagicSchool, with teacher guidance and supervision as part of instruction. When used, these tools support specific learning goals, such as helping students build background knowledge for research and writing projects, explore ideas, or engage in guided conversations with characters from texts they are studying.

Grades 6 - 12

In grades 6-12, GenAI may be used as part of learning through district-approved tools such as MagicSchool. Teachers use the AI Acceptable Use Scale to indicate the level of AI use allowed for each assignment or parts of assignments. All assignments default to Level 0 unless otherwise stated. A statement about AI expectations is included in every class syllabus. Examples of how AI is used in secondary classrooms include generating study questions, receiving writing feedback, finding reliable research sources, and supporting activities such as book recommendations.

When AI tools are used, students are expected to practice proactive disclosure and citation, clearly indicating when and how AI contributed to their work.

AI Syllabus Statement

In this course, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools such as text-generating or problem-solving websites, software, and chatbots is at the discretion of the teacher and is assignment-dependent. The guidance will include information about whether and how you may use AI-based tools to complete the assignment. AI is not allowed unless a teacher has given you permission to use AI on that assignment. All sources, including AI tools, must be properly cited. Any misuse of AI may result in disciplinary consequences as outlined in the BLS Code of Conduct. This misuse includes, but is not limited to:

Bypass a learning opportunity
Submitting AI-generated work as your original work
Using AI to duplicate work
Using AI to generate violent, hate-driven, defamatory, offensive, or biased content, including: text, images, videos, deep fakes or memes
Creating illegal or unethical content with AI

Please note that AI results can be biased and inaccurate. It is each student’s responsibility to ensure that the information they use from AI is accurate. Additionally, pay attention to the privacy of your data. Many AI tools will incorporate and use any content you share, so be careful not to unintentionally share copyrighted materials, original work, or personal information.

AI Acceptable Use Scale

The image is a table that outlines the levels of AI use and their corresponding disclosure requirements for an assignment or assessment.

Parents:

Quick Guide to GenAI in Our Schools

Quick Guide to GenAI in Our Schools

All students should have access to GenAI tools to ensure they have the opportunity to learn how to positively and expertly use it as they prepare for future college and career opportunities.

Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms

Oregon Department of Education

Shared Responsibility

To ensure that emerging technologies are used safely and effectively, we recognize that success depends on a shared responsibility model. Below are the four pillars that guide our district, defined by the specific roles of our teachers, students, and parents.

Human-Centered Learning Comes First

Support learning with intentional technology use

Teachers

AI and emerging technology tools serve teachers as an assistant for administrative tasks, freeing up time for high-impact mentorship and 1-on-1 student connection. Once a student has demonstrated proficiency in a foundational skill, teachers may provide opportunities for them to use AI to expand their techniques, increase efficiency, and accelerate their progress toward higher-level concepts.

Students

Students should treat technology as a thinking partner to help brainstorm or work through a creative block, while recognizing that it cannot replace one’s own unique voice and reflection. Once a student has demonstrated the ability to perform a skill independently, they may work with their teacher to explore using AI tools to improve efficiency and move from learning the basics to mastering the skill.

Parents

Parents can trust that a human educator, who knows each child’s unique needs, is always the final authority on instruction, grading, and support. Bend-La Pine Schools remain committed to ensuring students can think, write, and calculate on their own before they are taught how to use AI to augment those abilities, ensuring their progress is built on a solid foundation.

Safety and Privacy

Protect through vetted, developmentally ready access

Teachers

Students

Parents

Digital Literacy

Navigate, evaluate, and verify information

Teachers

Students

Students are the driver of their own learning. Whether reading a historical work, a news article, or an AI response, they must think critically about the information. The student’s job is to verify facts, identify differing views, look for errors or bias, and ensure they are respecting the intellectual property of others. It is also critical for students to know that AI is not a companion.

Parents

Parents are invited to be partners in building their child’s digital citizenship. They can support this at home by talking with students about how to spot misinformation, identify bias, and verify facts across all media. By exploring these tools together and modeling a healthy skepticism of digital content, parents help our students develop the critical thinking skills necessary to navigate a complex, information-rich world safely and responsibly.

Academic Integrity

Build a culture of honesty and trust

Teachers

Teachers use professional judgment to decide when, how, and if generative AI is appropriate for a specific lesson. They set the rules of the road for each assignment and learning target, using clear guidelines to communicate when AI is a helpful collaborator and when a human-only approach is required for mastery. Through consistent mentorship and observation, teachers leverage their professional intuition to ensure student work remains an authentic reflection of their individual growth.

Students

Parents

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the district's goal in teaching students about AI?

How is AI Literacy taught to students?

Bend-La Pine Schools has a district-wide approach to teaching safe and responsible AI use. Teachers have flexibility in how they address AI in their classroom, but the expectations and guardrails are consistent across the district to align with the Artificial Intelligence Policy. Schools are provided resources through Wayfinder, Common Sense Education, and student advisory slide decks.

Will my child's teacher still be the one grading their work?

Do Bend-La Pine Schools use AI detection tools?

No. AI detection tools are often inaccurate and may produce biased results. Instead, our district promotes proactive disclosure through citation, with students clearly indicating when and how generative AI contributed to their work.

Teachers also design learning experiences that help them understand each student’s voice, thinking, and work over time. This makes it easier to recognize authentic work and growth, and to identify when something may not reflect a student’s typical performance.

How are the environmental impacts of GenAI addressed in our schools?

What AI guidance do we use for district/school decisions?

Who was involved in developing the district's AI policy?

Policy development was informed by broad stakeholder engagement across the district. The Equity Coalition provided input on the policy topic and conducted school visits to observe how AI is being used in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. The Student Voice Council also contributed feedback, ensuring that student perspectives were included. In addition, the community was given the opportunity to provide input prior to the policy going live, resulting in strong engagement through comments and feedback that directly informed the final policy language.

How are digital tools vetted?

A district level team evaluates all digital instructional tools. One of the primary criteria used in evaluation is whether a tool aligns with our instructional philosophies, policies, and practices. When a tool includes AI features, we examine the type of AI used (predictive, generative, agentic, etc), audience (students, teachers, or both), data privacy compliance, and alignment with adopted policy.

Vendor relationships are maintained by central office teams. AI updates are often discovered and discussed via quarterly calls with vendor contacts. At a minimum, instructional tools are evaluated yearly using the criteria discussed above.

Is my child's data safe?

Resource List

Administrative Policy: Artificial Intelligence, Bend-La Pine School District
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in K-12 Classrooms, Oregon Department of Education
Developing Policy and Protocols for the use of Generative AI in K-12 Classrooms, Oregon Department of Education
Artificial Intelligence (AI): CoSN Leading the Way in AI for K-12, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)