Instead, district officials are encouraging teachers to continue using a district-approved software program called MagicSchool AI that they say is data-protected and meets district safety standards. The student side of MagicSchool is only available to students with a teacher guide.
The move to block ChatGPT was generally supported by a 50-person committee of Boulder Valley teachers, parents and students that meets monthly to talk about AI in education. Lynn Gershman, Boulder Valley's academic services director, said she received only positive feedback after making the change, including from a couple of students. Earlier this year, Denver Public Schools also blocked ChatGPT for students.
"ChatGPT implemented things we can't manage," Gershman said. "We're not going to intervene with AI unless we have to, and ChatGPT gave us that situation. We weren't feeling that we were keeping kids safe."
As the district continues to navigate the AI world, the Boulder Valley school board is scheduled to discuss AI and technology at a study session at 9 a.m. March 24 at Education Center, 6500 E. Arapahoe Road, Boulder. So far, the district doesn't have a specific policy around AI use.
For ChatGPT, one concern is a feature that allows the creation of group chats with up to 20 participants, Gershman said. Users also have the ability to set specific instructions governing how ChatGPT responds within the context of the group chat.
"If there was bullying taking place, we can't see it or manage it," Gershman said.
Another is a multimedia feature that supports file uploads and image generation, including access to and creation of explicit materials. While ChatGPT has age restrictions, she said, the verification process doesn't meet the district's protective standards. Age verification is through either a selfie video or capturing a photo ID — and both are easy for students to get around, she said.
Users who can verify they are 18 or older may be exposed to graphic depictions of violence, viral challenges and role-playing scenarios that promote risky or harmful behavior, and content that advocates for extreme beauty standards.
Broomfield High anatomy and physiology teacher Stephen Kelly, who's part of the district's AI committee, spent time over the summer training MagicSchool's chatbot to respond to student questions in a similar way that he would respond, creating an AI tutor.
"It's supposed to be like an always-on version of me," he said. "It would give them a lot of help, but it wouldn't do what ChatGPT does, which is give them all the answers. It does all the things ChatGPT would do, but it has guardrails."
When students asked why his chatbot was better, he said, he told them getting help from ChatGPT for his class was like asking for help from a history teacher — while it would offer general help, it wouldn't be specific to his class.
"These bots are trained to walk you through the process exactly how I would as a teacher," he said.
With that access to an AI tutor, he said, the ChatGPT ban hasn't been an issue for his students. He added it's important not to ban all AI, saying students need to learn AI literacy.
"I've tried to incorporate it as a tool, the same way a math teacher would teach students how to use a TI-83 calculator," he said.
Another way he uses AI in his class is through case studies. When students are studying medical cases, he will set up a chatbot that mimics the patient to guide them through the information and help them reach conclusions.
"They're having a conversation with a historical figure," he said. "It brings another modality to learning."
While the rollout of generative AI has happened quickly, he said, the district committee helping guide the district in its use is being intentional and thinking through the different aspects of its use in schools.
"We're not shying away from AI, but appropriate use is going to be key," he said.
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