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We uphold a human-centered approach to the use of technology: human relationships, professional teacher expertise and student voice remain the heart of instruction throughout the City School District of Albany.
The rapid expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) is an important issue in education and throughout our society. With that in mind, we have created this page to help address your questions now and as these topics continue to evolve. We will continue to update this page with your most frequently asked questions. If you do not see your questions or concerns addressed below, we encourage you to use the form at the bottom of the page to submit them.
How are instructional AI tools being used in our schools?
AI tools are used in a limited and supervised manner, and never in a way that conflicts with our prioritization of building relationships and student growth. AI is never, and will never be, used as a substitute for the high-quality and compassionate instruction of our dedicated teaching staff.
- Student Use: Students have limited use of instructional AI tools. They have access only to approved tools, which are used in ways that enhance learning experiences. This primarily includes receiving immediate feedback on work from a rubric created directly by their teachers. Examples of this are Magic School and Snorkl, which are described in detail below. Students do not have access to public AI models (like ChatGPT) or companion chatbots.
- Staff Use: Our teachers and staff use instructional AI tools purposefully to support their professional work in alignment with instructional best practices, including designing differentiated lessons and providing timely feedback. Any AI material generated by our teachers and staff is always carefully reviewed for content and accuracy.
Can students access public AI models (like ChatGPT) or companion chatbots?
No. Students do not have access to commercial Large Language Models (such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Copilot, Grok or Perplexity) on district-issued devices. Furthermore, Albany students cannot access companion chatbots; all district-approved instructional tools have specific guardrails preventing social companionship or advice-giving behavior.
Does AI grade my child's work?
No. While instructional software may provide real-time feedback during practice to help students adjust and improve, final grades, evaluations and academic assessments are always determined by human teachers.
Can my child access harmful or inappropriate AI content on their Chromebook?
No. In compliance with the Children’s Internet Protection Act (CIPA), the district has web filtering that monitors student internet usage and blocks content that is obscene, pornographic or harmful to children. In addition to the requirements of CIPA, the district blocks categories and content deemed to be inappropriate or unsafe. All teachers have access to tools that allow them to monitor and limit student computer usage to only websites they have specifically listed. All approved instructional AI tools have been vetted by the district for safety and security. Teachers and staff are able to monitor student use for inappropriate interactions with those tools.
What are MagicSchool and Snorkl, and why do we use them?
Both platforms were recommended by Albany educators who recognized their value for enhancing classroom instruction. Created by educators specifically for educational settings, these tools function within a "walled garden" AI framework — a secure, enclosed digital environment that strictly regulates, supervises and limits student and teacher interactions to pre-approved educational content.
- MagicSchool: Enables teachers to design differentiated instructional materials and launch secure, task-specific AI learning activities where students can explore curriculum content, practice targeted skills and receive guided learning support under direct teacher supervision. It excludes companion chatbots and ensures all student interactions remain focused on explicit learning goals.
- Snorkl: Promotes deeper thinking by delivering real-time feedback that students can immediately apply to deepen understanding. It includes customizable accessibility features and supplies teachers with real-time performance data to guide instruction. The feedback provided to students is based off a rubric created by their teacher.
What is the district's screen time guidance for elementary students?
To support healthy screen habits, physical movement and hands-on learning, daily schedules balance digital tool use with print books, handwriting and interactive science kits. Weekly screen time guidance for instructional software is structured as follows:
| GRADE | INSTRUCTIONAL SOFTWARE WEEKLY GUIDANCE | GENERAL CLASSROOM ASSIGNMENTS | APPROXIMATE WEEKLY TOTAL |
| PK | NO ACCESS | NO ACCESS | NO ACCESS |
| K-2 | 2.5 hours/week | Up to 1 hour/week | 3.5 hours/week |
| 3-5 | 3.5 hours/week | Up to 1 hour/week | 4.5 hours/week |
NOTE: Students with disabilities and English Language Learners (ELLs) will continue to have access to necessary technology tools as required.
What does a 'human-centered' approach mean for my child?
In our district, a human-centered approach means that human relationships, professional teacher expertise and student voice remain at the center of instruction. Educators are always in control of any work involving Instructional AI tools. AI serves human-defined goals, and technology never replaces human interaction, small-group instruction or intervention support staff.
Are third-party AI companies allowed to use student work to train their AI models?
No. In compliance with New York State EdLaw § 2-d and district Data Privacy Agreements, no vendor or AI software provider is permitted to use student data, prompts or submitted work to train public or commercial AI models.
How is my child's data protected under NYS Education Law § 2-d?
New York State Education Law § 2-d provides robust privacy safeguard requirements for both districts and third-party vendors:
- Prohibition on Data Sales: Student data can never be sold or used for commercial marketing or advertising.
- Educational Necessity Limits: Only data strictly necessary for educational purposes is collected.
- Mandatory Encryption & Security: Software vendors must maintain industry-standard encryption and cybersecurity protections.
- ¶¶ÒõappÏÂÔØs' Bill of Rights: Published on the district website to outline parent privacy rights.
- Vendor Transparency & DPAs: Legally binding Data Privacy Agreements (DPAs) are maintained for all approved vendors and .
For more information on NYS Education Law § 2-d, .
How do educational AI platforms comply with NYS Educational Law 2-d?
These platforms utilize enterprise-grade APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). Enterprise agreements guarantee that outputs and student data are never saved or used by underlying LLM providers for model training. Compliant AI platforms process student data solely to return instant outputs (like feedback or grading support) and delete or anonymize data according to the district’s retention schedule.
What are educational AI platforms allowed to do with student data?
- Local In-Session Context: The AI can "read" student inputs in the moment to generate immediate feedback or differentiate a lesson. This temporary processing does not count as model training because the data is not ingested into the AI's permanent memory bank.
- Completely Anonymized System Analytics: Vendors may analyze fully aggregated, non-PII operational data (e.g., tracking which features teachers use most) to fix bugs or optimize app performance, provided it cannot be traced back to any individual student.
Have the district's AI tools undergone an independent student data privacy evaluation?
Yes. Common Sense Media performed independent student data privacy assessments for MagicSchool and Snorkl, the district-approved AI platforms. According to Common Sense Media, these evaluations aim to assist parents, educators and technology users in understanding the potential privacy impacts of educational tools used in teaching and learning.
- MagicSchool has earned a Common Sense Verified Seal with a score of 95%.
- Snorkl has earned a Common Sense Verified Seal with a score of 93%.
How is academic dishonesty handled if a student misuses AI?
The district takes a proactive, educational approach. Educators set clear expectations regarding ethical tool use. Suspected academic dishonesty is addressed through direct teacher-student dialogue, open-ended questioning to verify student understanding and restorative practices aligned with the district's Code of Conduct.
How does AI support accessibility for students with disabilities and multilingual learners?
AI tools create meaningful opportunities for teachers to build supports for individual student needs. Teachers can adapt existing materials to support language, activate background knowledge and allow students to demonstrate knowledge in different ways.
What is the district's vetting process for new software?
Before any software or AI tool is approved for classroom use, it must pass a 10-point evaluation criteria:
- NYS EdLaw § 2-d Data Privacy & Cybersecurity compliance.
- Tool sustainability and annual licensing viability.
- Ease of navigation for teachers and students.
- Integration with district platforms (e.g., Google Classroom).
- Developmental appropriateness for target grade levels.
- Purpose and alignment with district goals and NYS Standards.
- Active student engagement and pedagogical value.
- Internal data-reporting capability to inform instruction.
- Timely feedback mechanisms for learners.
- Accessibility features for Special Education students and multilingual learners.
What does major research say about the role of technology and AI in education?
Major research syntheses from leading educational and research organizations, including ISTE+ASCD, the Brookings Institution, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and MIT, show that digital tools and artificial intelligence are most effective when used as "amplifiers" of high-quality, teacher-led instruction rather than replacements for human teaching.
Key findings across these institutional reports indicate that technology adds the greatest educational value when it is:
- Interactive and Purposeful: Active, intentional learning with digital tools leads to positive progress in core skills like literacy, math and scientific reasoning, whereas passive media consumption offers minimal benefit.
- Focused on Timely Feedback: Research consistently identifies real-time feedback as one of the most effective ways to support learning. Education-specific tools allow students to practice, receive immediate feedback and refine their work in the moment.
- Guided by Socratic Scaffolding: Studies from the OECD and MIT emphasize that AI in schools should be "pro-learner" — guiding students through step-by-step thinking and practice rather than acting as an "answer machine" that does the thinking for them.
How do national guidelines inform the district’s approach to screen time?
Guidance from major health and educational authorities, including the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and ISTE+ASCD, emphasizes that policy should focus on "screen value" over rigid minute counting.
The AAP and learning science experts highlight that the impact of technology depends on its quality, context and active engagement. Rather than relying on default screen use, the district uses this research to establish intentional weekly screen time guidance, ensuring that digital practice is balanced with print materials, physical handwriting, hands-on science and face-to-face instruction
Does research also highlight risks associated with technology and AI in schools?
Yes, and the district takes these research-backed warnings very seriously. Leading reports from Brookings, the OECD and MIT explicitly document significant risks when technology is misapplied. These documented risks include:
- Unfocused Screen Overuse & Distraction: Excessive or passive screen time can harm attention spans and reduce meaningful human interaction.
- Cognitive Offloading: Unguided access to commercial AI chatbots (like ChatGPT) can lead students to copy answers rather than develop critical thinking skills.
- Privacy Vulnerabilities: Unregulated commercial software can expose student data or use student work to train commercial models.
How is our district addressing these risks?
Our policies were specifically built around these research warnings. To prevent these outcomes, the district blocks open commercial LLMs on student devices, provides elementary screen time guidance, strictly enforces NYS EdLaw § 2-d privacy standards and only uses teacher-directed "walled garden" platforms (like MagicSchool and Snorkl) designed to foster active reflection rather than shortcuts.
Can I opt my child out of educational technology or AI tools?
No. The appropriate use of instructional technology tools and district-approved AI platforms are used by teachers to support and enhance the core curriculum and meet all NYS Learning Standards, including the K-12 Computer Science and Digital Fluency Standards.
Still have questions?
If you have read through this list of FAQs and still have a major question, comment or concern that you feel has not been answered, we invite you to complete the form below. You can also watch the video below created and narrated by our Instructional Technology Coaches, which provides a similar overview of the information on this page.
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