Blatt said any opportunity for West Virginia to be part of a national conversation is beneficial for the state, but especially on the topic of artificial intelligence in the classroom, noting that West Virginia is among the few states to have developed formal guidance for AI use in K-12 education.
Rather than adopting strict policy or mandates, Blatt said, the West Virginia Department of Education chose to issue checklist-style guidances in order to keep up with artificial software that's changing rapidly.
"We have explained to districts what AI is and what it isn’t and it's making teachers aware of things they should be on the look out for before using or paying for (AI) services," she said.
Blatt explained with the guideline method, "We can update and change them frequently."
Blatt said the department has already revised its documents twice since releasing its guidance format in January 2024, reinforcing the need for flexibility instead of regulations that could quickly become outdated if Congressional approval is required.
According to Blatt, the checklist guidelines include provisions aimed at data privacy and student privacy but still allows students and educators access to technology that's already shaping the next generation.
Blatt told lawmakers that AI usage in the classroom is not intended to replace teachers, but rather to emphasize relationships between students and their teachers, which is vital in any learning environment.
She said that sentiment was consistent with the panel's thoughts, too.
"Everyone on the panel agrees that no one thinks this would replace the role of a teacher," Blatt said.
However, according to Blatt, many teachers in West Virginia are using AI platforms to help create lesson plans that include a variety of classroom activities. In early literacy instruction, for example, AI has been used to help craft phonics activities tailored to individual student needs and learning plans.
Blatt also pointed to more advanced applications occurring in schools, including the use of Minecraft Education, which has allowed students to explore AI concepts and learn how to use the technology safely.
Blatt said multiple high schools across the state are also using a pilot program focused on app development, allowing students to explore different ideas and then create them, leading them to then learn marketing strategies to advance their creations into something tangible.
Blatt said she believes adapting to the technology is important, as even its initial stages, AI is embedded in certain career and technical pathways, meaning future students will rely on skills not yet familiar enough to include in pre-planned instruction materials.
She also referenced stakeholder survey responses from parents, in which many responded they want their children to continue building foundational math, reading and writing skills — while also developing skills necessary for the future workforce.
"Parents still want (students) to read and write and have those skills, but also have skills for the future," Blatt said.
In line with preparing students for the future, the use of advanced technology and AI has already made impacts beyond K-12 education, Blatt noted, including computer science and cybersecurity programs, represented by Marshall University's recent investment to construct an Institute of Cyber Security.
"Universities will play into the future and support in this area," she said.
Blatt said, even with its rapid effects on varying industries, she believes oversight of AI in schools is manageable at the state level for the time being, adding, right now, there's no need for federal mandates.
However, she suggested to the congressional committee that federal research and opportunities for states to collaborate could be helpful in information sharing like guidelines working well in one state, could work for everyone.
"I think it's definitely manageable on the state level," Blatt said, adding while the Department of Education wasn't turning towards the federal level for mandates and policy, the state's education systems could benefit from federal research and collaboration.
As AI continues to evolve, Blatt said the education department in West Virginia intends to maintain its guidance-based approach, allowing for continued updates and adjustments to keep up as technology changes.
© 2026 The Charleston Gazette (Charleston, W.Va.). Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
