Parent AI communication

Parent AI Communication

Tried and tested resources for school administrators on communicating with parents about AI.

Best practices for parent communication

This resource is designed to help schools proactively and confidently communicate with families about AI. Over the past two years, one of the most frequent questions we’ve heard from school leaders is: What should we say to parents about AI?

We’ve found that the most effective parent communication strategies have two things in common:

They’re proactive.

Parents don’t expect schools to have every answer about AI—but they do expect awareness. Many parents are already using AI tools in their own careers, and they recognize that their children will be entering a world shaped by these technologies. They want to know that the school is:

Being silent or reactive risks undermining trust. Schools don’t need a perfect plan—but they do need to share their thinking.

They invite two-way dialogue.

AI is evolving quickly, and there are no one-size-fits-all policies. Creating space for parents to voice their comfort level, ask questions, or share concerns helps schools build stronger partnerships. In fact, some of the most thoughtful approaches we’ve seen came from schools that engaged parents before setting rigid rules or AI bans.

Answering frequently asked questions from parents

Based on conversations with hundreds of schools, we’ve compiled the most common questions parents ask when it comes to AI.

What is the school doing to keep my child’s data safe and ensure that it’s not being used to train AI?

Recommended response

It’s a completely fair question—and one we’ve heard from many parents. With tools like ChatGPT in the news and easily accessible at home, it’s understandable to wonder how student data is being used.

Yes, tools like ChatGPT do use input data to improve their models, and their terms of service prohibit use by children under 13. That’s why, as a school, we don’t officially endorse or support student use of those tools.

Any AI platform we choose goes through a thorough review to ensure it meets privacy laws and keeps student information secure. We only use tools that do not train their models on student data and that are built with educational safeguards in place. If a tool doesn’t meet those standards, we don’t use it.

Addendum for Flint Schools

We’ve chosen to partner with Flint, an AI platform specifically built for schools. One reason we selected Flint is because it is fully FERPA, COPPA, and GDPR compliant, and it does not use student interactions to train its AI models.

Unlike many consumer-facing tools, Flint is designed to be safe and appropriate for students of all ages—including those under 13—without violating any terms of service. That gives us confidence that students can explore AI in a structured, school-approved environment that puts their safety and privacy first.

How are you making sure students don’t rely on AI to do the work for them?

Recommended response

We know that AI tools are widely available—and that some students may be tempted to use them in ways that shortcut the learning process. That’s exactly why we believe it’s important to teach students how to use AI well, not just try to block it entirely.

We’re taking a clear, guided approach: helping students understand where AI can support their learning (like brainstorming or practice), and where it crosses the line (like writing full assignments or skipping key steps in the process). We’ve also been crafting school-wide AI guidelines and policies—but ultimately, we place discretion in the hands of individual teachers to set and communicate the expected level of AI usage (if any) on a per-assignment basis.

Addendum for Flint Schools

We chose Flint in part because it’s designed to support—not replace—student thinking. Flint can provide helpful feedback, practice questions, and personalized tutoring, but it doesn’t generate full answers or complete assignments for students. That makes it easier for teachers to integrate AI in a way that reinforces learning, not shortcuts it.

Teachers also have insight into how students are using Flint, which helps them spot patterns and reinforce responsible use over time.

How will you make sure AI helps all students, not just the ones who are already ahead?

Recommended response

That’s a concern we take seriously—and one of the reasons we believe it’s important for us, as a school, to take an active role in teaching students how to use AI. Just giving students access to tools isn’t enough. Without guidance and support, AI is more likely to benefit students who are already confident or ahead.

That’s why we’re working to build AI literacy across our student body—so all learners can understand how to use these tools in responsible and meaningful ways. When introduced thoughtfully, AI has the potential to level the playing field by giving students more opportunities for practice, feedback, and individualized support.

Addendum for Flint Schools

One of the reasons we selected Flint is that it gives every student access to high-quality academic support—regardless of their starting point. Flint’s tools are designed to support a wide range of learners in ways that traditional instruction alone sometimes can’t.

For example, an English language learner can use Flint as a language tutor—receiving real-time translations of difficult content and practicing conversational English at their level. In a math course, a student can get live, 24/7 feedback on problem-solving steps, helping them stay on track even outside of class time.

In addition, we’re using Flint’s AI Literacy Certification course to ensure our students develop the skills and confidence to use AI effectively and responsibly.

How do I know teachers aren’t just letting AI do the teaching?

Recommended response

Some of our teachers do use AI to support their work, but never as a replacement for instruction. Think of it more like a teaching assistant: AI can help with tasks like brainstorming lesson ideas, drafting materials, or differentiating assignments—so that teachers can spend more of their time on what matters most: working directly with students.

It’s not about replacing the teacher. It’s about giving them better tools. We also expect every teacher to review and take full responsibility for any materials they use or share with students, regardless of whether AI played a role in creating them.

Addendum for Flint Schools

One of the reasons we chose Flint is that it allows us, as a school, to set pedagogical best practices that guide how the AI supports tasks like lesson planning. This helps ensure consistency and quality across classrooms—while still giving our teachers flexibility and ownership over their instruction.