EPISD already has classroom guidance for student use of artificial intelligence. In an August 12 memorandum, the district identified Microsoft Copilot, Canva AI and All In Learning as approved student platforms. Schoology PowerBuddy is currently available only to teachers, according to the memorandum from El Paso ISD.
The district’s guidance uses an “AI Levels of Use” scale from Level 0 through Level 4 so teachers can specify how much assistance an assignment permits. Students are expected to follow those directions, disclose AI assistance and protect personal information, the memorandum says. The guidance also emphasizes academic integrity and directs campuses toward district-reviewed instructional platforms rather than an outright ban on student AI use.
What trustees are considering
Against that existing guidance, EPISD trustees are scheduled to discuss a broader classroom framework Tuesday. No final districtwide policy is scheduled for adoption, according to the agenda described by KFOX14/CBS4. The agenda references the Students First Act of 2026, which addresses protections and responsibilities for students, parents, teachers and administrators using AI in K-12 education.
The framework described in that report would prohibit students through eighth grade from using AI to complete schoolwork. Students beyond eighth grade could use it for studying, brainstorming or editing when a teacher permits it, but not to complete assignments. The proposal also covers student-data privacy, teacher training, AI literacy and written explanations of when AI use is allowed, restricted or prohibited, KFOX14 reported.
Trustees could direct staff to develop an AI framework, guidebook or board policy instead of taking final action at the meeting. Norma, president of the El Paso Teachers Association, told KFOX14 that clear guidelines would help teachers, students and parents understand classroom expectations. She said those guidelines should be tested before the district develops a formal policy and that AI should not replace teachers or student learning.
Related district and regional efforts
EPISD’s policy discussion follows other AI-related work. The district is the pilot for El Paso Computes, a $3 million collaboration with the City of El Paso and UTEP intended to train 750 K-12 teachers and reach more than 20,000 students with AI, coding and computational-thinking skills, according to the University of Texas at El Paso.
EPISD also launched an Hour of AI program in December 2025 with Microsoft TechSpark and La Nube STEAM Discovery Center. The initiative brought age-appropriate AI-literacy lessons to Pre-K through 12th-grade classrooms through interactive digital and unplugged activities from Code.org and Minecraft Education.
