How to Write an AI Classroom Policy: A Teacher’s Guide

Stage: Middle and Secondary · Language: English · Format: Guide

An AI classroom policy is a short, living agreement about how AI tools may — and may not — be used in your class during the year. It sets expectations, protects learning and helps students use AI honestly.

Why have one?

• It builds shared responsibility and accountability.
• It creates trust and transparency between you and your students.
• It develops digital literacy and critical thinking.
• It promotes fairness and responsible innovation.

Five components

1. Academic integrity

• Spell out acceptable and unacceptable uses, with examples.
• Ask students to label or cite AI-assisted work.
• Assess the process (drafts, oral explanation, in-class work), not only the final product.

2. Data privacy

• No personal student data in public AI tools.
• Use only tools your school has approved.
• Tell families how AI tools handle student data.

3. Ethical use and AI literacy

• Teach students to evaluate AI output critically.
• Model transparency in your own AI use.
• Discuss bias, misinformation and limitations openly.

4. Equity and inclusion

• Make sure every student has fair access to tools and support.
• Use AI to improve accessibility and differentiation.
• Watch for students being left out.

5. Pedagogical alignment

• Choose tools that fit your curriculum goals.
• Use AI for creativity, personalisation and reflection.
• Keep the teacher central: AI supports, it does not replace.

Tips for creating your policy

1. Collaborate: write it with your students.
2. Keep it student-centred: focus on their learning.
3. Stay flexible: tools change; your policy can too.
4. Be transparent: discuss expectations and boundaries openly.
5. Review regularly: revisit it each term.

Questions to settle with your class

• Which AI tools are allowed in this class, and for what?
• How will we define — and notice — AI misuse?
• How will we protect personal data?
• What skills do we need to use AI responsibly?
• What must students disclose when they use AI in an assignment?

Further reading: UNESCO’s AI competency framework for teachers and the European Commission–OECD AI Literacy Framework.