Vermont Agency of Education Releases New Guidance to Support the Use of Artificial Intelligence in Schools

The Vermont Agency of Education released new guidance to help schools and educators navigate artificial intelligence (AI) thoughtfully and responsibly. The guidance is a resource for educators, school leaders, and communities, as they explore how AI tools can support teaching and learning while preserving the personal interactions that define high-quality education.

The guidance provides a practical framework to support local decision-making as schools continue to innovate in ways that reflect Vermont values. The document emphasizes the importance of maintaining human agency, educator judgment, and student well-being as schools consider the use of AI tools.

"AI brings both opportunity and risk that must be managed thoughtfully," said Secretary of Education Zoie Saunders. "AI tools are already present in our classrooms; and it is our responsibility to help educators and students use these tools with intention and confidence to harness the potential of AI for deepening learning while guarding against over-reliance. At the Agency, we see this guidance as the first step in Vermonters coming together to share best practices and support Vermont's responsible use of AI as a tool to advance our collective vision of building the best education system in the country."

The guidance outlines how AI can support Vermont's long-standing commitment to personalized, proficiency-based, and project-based learning by helping scale individualized support, assist with accessibility and accommodations, and reduce administrative burdens for educators. At the same time, it underscores the need to continue prioritizing the systematic, explicit development of core content and disciplinary expertise across all grade levels so that students can think critically, evaluate AI-generated information, and use these tools ethically and effectively.

The document also emphasizes that AI is not a solution to all challenges in education, nor is it something to be avoided entirely. Instead, it calls for clear guardrails, educator leadership, and ongoing dialogue with communities to ensure AI supports student learning, academic integrity, and healthy cognitive and social development.

"Vermont educators have been leading the way, exploring both the opportunities and challenges AI presents for teaching and learning," said Josh Blumberg, the Agency's Education Tech Program Manager. "This guidance builds on their work. My hope is that it serves as a shared foundation, a starting point for collaboration across districts as we learn together."

The full guidance is available on the Agency's website.