Prime Highlights:
- George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development is helping Virginia schools adopt AI responsibly, fairly, and effectively.
- School leaders and state officials emphasize using AI thoughtfully to prepare students for the future while protecting privacy and supporting teachers.
Key Facts:
- The initiative, led through ERA.NOVA included the Fall Convening, where policymakers, superintendents, and researchers discussed AI integration in classrooms.
- Virginia’s guidelines promote age-appropriate AI use, ethical design, strong data governance, and family involvement in education.
Background
George Mason University’s College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) is taking a leading role in guiding how artificial intelligence is used in K–12 education across Virginia. Through the Educational Research Alliance of Northern Virginia (ERA.NOVA), the college is working with school leaders, state officials, and researchers to help schools adopt AI in a responsible, fair, and effective way.
The effort took center stage at the ERA.NOVA Fall Convening held in late October. The event brought together policymakers, superintendents, technology officers, and university faculty to talk about how AI is changing classrooms and what schools should do next. Participants agreed that schools must use AI, but they need to plan carefully and use it thoughtfully.
School leaders explained how districts balance new ideas with student safety and teacher readiness. Orange County Public Schools Superintendent Dan Hornick said schools must get students ready for an AI-driven future while protecting privacy and following ethical rules. Some districts are already making flexible guidelines and training teachers before using AI tools more in classrooms.
At the state level, Virginia education officials highlighted new guidelines that promote age-appropriate AI use, careful tool selection and family involvement. The state expects AI to become part of problem-based learning across grade levels by the end of the decade.
George Mason researchers also shared findings that stress AI literacy, ethical design, and strong data governance. Faculty members noted that AI should support teachers, not replace human judgment or relationships in learning.
University leaders said collaboration between research and school systems is key. CEHD Dean Ingrid Guerra-López said the goal is to ensure AI strengthens learning, expands opportunity, and supports future-ready education.
The Fall Convening marked the first event in ERA.NOVA’s 2025–26 series on artificial intelligence in education, with more sessions planned in the coming months.
