AI Access Update for Students

As Gahanna-Jefferson Public Schools continues to prepare students for a rapidly changing digital world, we are committed to providing tools that foster innovation while prioritizing student safety and data privacy. As such, we are updating our technology policy to streamline student access to artificial intelligence.

Effective March 27, GJPS will transition to using Gemini as the sole authorized AI platform for student use. To maintain a secure learning environment, all other public AI platforms will be blocked on district-managed Chromebooks.

While AI offers incredible potential, many public platforms carry risks that do not align with our safety standards:

• Privacy Concerns: Many AI tools "learn" from user data. Unlike public tools, Gemini accounts associated with our school domain are bound by Google’s Education Standards, meaning student data is protected and not used to train global AI models.

• Safety & Social Risks: We have observed many AI platforms adding "chat room" features that allow students to communicate with unverified users. Using Gemini exclusively prevents exposure to these unregulated social environments.

• Inappropriate Content: Public AI can occasionally generate content that is not age-appropriate. By using Gemini within our Google environment, we have greater oversight and filtering capabilities to mitigate these risks.

By hosting our AI interactions within our existing Google ecosystem, the District can better monitor for risky behavior. If concerns arise, our technology team has the ability to "check in" on usage to ensure students are using the tool safely and for its intended educational purpose.

This is not about limiting student potential, but about protecting students while they learn. Our AI Committee continues to study the best ways to integrate this technology so that our graduates are prepared for a future where AI literacy is essential.

We appreciate your partnership in keeping our digital classrooms safe, focused and secure.