Mark Atkinson

The CDE has released new artificial intelligence guidance for the safe and effective use of AI in California schools. In accordance with California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond’s professional learning initiative, the CDE is committed to supporting AI-focused professional learning for administrators and educators, educating them about the benefits and limitations of AI. Developed through the collaborative work of a diverse statewide AI in Education Working Group, the guidance offers recommendations addressing data privacy, academic integrity, educator support, and human-centered learning. Explore the guidance and resources at https://lnkd.in/gQRVcW_J

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Want to know the best way to plan an AI rollout in a school district? Bring everyone to the table. Today the Santa Clara Unified School District AI Advisory Committee did exactly that — teachers, vice principals, students, and classified staff all in the room together. The result? A much clearer picture of how to actually implement AI tools in a way that works for real people. Here's what we walked away with: - Start with the right people, not all the people at once - Match the tool to the level — elementary, middle, high school, and business ops each have different needs - Don't rush it. Pace matters more than speed - Most importantly — lead with WHY before you ever talk tools That last one? It changes everything. Thanks to the SCUSD AI Advisory Committee for the candid insights today. This is the work that makes the difference. 💡 #SCUSDproud #AIinEducation #EdTech #LaborManagement #SchoolLeadership Phanom "Amber" Wacht Stephanie Rothstein Aaron Lindley Kaashvi Mittal Mark Schiel

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Innovation isn’t always about high-tech—it’s about finding smart, resourceful ways to meet students’ needs. In rural California, Superintendent Laura Jacob is doing just that. Faced with tight budgets and a deep commitment to preserving access to music education, she began 3D-printing violins for her students. The results? Lower costs. Higher engagement. And students who are not only learning to play, but also exploring how instruments are built. This story is a powerful reminder that when we think differently about access, we open new pathways for learning. Read the full story: https://lnkd.in/dDVnmJ5n

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Honored to present “Using Accessibility-Aligned AI to Move Courses Toward the Revised ADA Title II” and truly grateful for the thoughtful feedback and continued curiosity that followed. This was a collaborative webinar with CVC@One, the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, and the CCC Accessibility Center — and it reflects what’s possible when we work together across the system and share a collective mission. A special thank you to my incredible colleagues who helped support this work: Garrick Grace , Dawn Okinaka , and Christine Fundell Compliance is the floor. Equity is the goal. Student success is the outcome. #Accessibility #ADA #HigherEducation #UniversalDesign #AIinEducation #CaliforniaCommunityColleges

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Ready for a look into how California's County Offices of Education are creating the framework for how AI is introduced into public schools? Darn right you are. In "AI at Scale: The COE Strategy for Supporting District Implementation," you'll hear how these COEs are balancing innovation with risk management, equity, and real instructional impact, and how they're ensuring AI is moving into schools responsibly. If you're an EdTech provider or part of a school district team needing to understand how AI decisions are being made in California, you'll want to be in this conversation! Jacob Kantor Dr. Sonal Patel Katherine Goyette Christopher Hoang, Ed.D. Jeff Oldfield, PhD

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Many Washington State superintendents and school directors are gathering in Seattle this week for the Washington State School Directors' Association Annual Conference. A common concern that many in attendance have is how to reduce district budgets, while still improving educational outcomes for students. Today's webinar by Marguerite Roza from Edunomics Lab at Georgetown University was another informative session that provided concrete steps for school leaders to consider. Top suggestions for spending smarter: 1. eliminate what isn't working 2. Quality over quantity 3. Target investments vs. one-size-fits-all 4. Improve Tier 1 instruction to reduce redundancies What strategies are you discussing for restructuring your budget and improving student outcomes? Washington State School Directors' Association Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA)

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How to use AI to support learning is difficult at any age. The urge to be done more quickly, to get it right, to not have to struggle - will be hard to overcome - but it must if students want to really learn any subject and think logically on their own. Check out the article, "Your Brain on ChatGPT: Accumulation of Cognitive Debt When Using an AI Assistant for Essay Writing" https://lnkd.in/gqYTHSyG

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👩🏫 Faculty buy-in is the missing link in many EdTech rollouts. Tools fail not because of the tech—but because faculty weren’t included, trained, or trusted as partners. 💡 Adoption starts with alignment. 👉 How do you secure faculty buy-in for new initiatives? Read more: https://buff.ly/tcltnMb #HigherEd #Faculty #EdTech #Leadership #Innovation

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Last week, I had the honor to attend the second in-person California AfterSchool Network Ecosystem Advisory Team convening. I hold deep gratitude for the educators, system leaders, and community partners who showed up ready to practice real, generative listening. The day was a powerful exercise in system sensing—not just hearing what’s present, but noticing what we’re not hearing yet. It was a reminder of the imperative to decolonize data: to question whose knowledge counts, whose stories shape decisions, and how we move from extraction to relationship. I was especially moved by the emerging EXL Statewide Listening Toolkit Draft, which offers guidance on how to intentionally facilitate listening sessions that decolonize data collection and make meaning of findings. At AllSet Education, we’re committed to this work: centering the voices that matter most and designing systems that listen before they act. Thank you to everyone who contributed their time, wisdom, and care to the day. Hopeful for what we’ll build next—together. 💪

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RAISE: Rural AI Schools for Excellence - A collaboration between Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy, aiEDU, Leading Educators, and Collegiate Edu-Nation to help rural districts align #AI integration with their instructional vision and policy, empowering educators to implement AI-enabled instruction that is coherent, goal-aligned, and supported by systems rather than isolated efforts. https://lnkd.in/gqtS2GdQ --- Dream team = Sandra Jin Lindsay Berger Rachael McClain

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School Boards, Superintendents, Special Education Directors, & Principals: Can you afford to let unchecked AI use run rampant on IEPs, Evaluations, Accommodation Plans? Everyone is now using LLMs in the classroom, but have you laid out clear guidance for IEP Teams? Districts face many compliance risks without clear guidance. Leaving parents out of the collaboration process, sharing personally identifiable information (PII) with LLMs, and data hallucination are just a few. Only by adopting clear and concise policy can we ensure students, families, and districts are protected from "AI SLOP" (and litigation!). https://lnkd.in/gyyFw2Nu

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📊 Strong Results with FOSS in LA Unified School District (LAUSD) From 2022–2025, FOSS schools scored 5 percentage points higher on average in “meets and exceeds” on the Grade 5 California Science Test (CAST) compared to LAUSD overall. In 2025 alone, FOSS schools outperformed non-FOSS LAUSD schools by nearly 7%. LAUSD has adopted two science programs—FOSS and Amplify. Results shown are based on public assessment data.

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