Auditor says Lancaster has no formal AI-use policy

What happened

The district's outside auditor reported on October 5, 2026 that Lancaster has no formal policy on how staff and students may use AI tools. Management agreed to review and revise policies and train staff by June 30, 2027.

Why it matters to families

AI tools are already used by students and staff. Without a written policy, families have no clear rules on cheating, privacy of student data, or when AI use must be disclosed.

The evidence

The audit management letter (Exhibit I) says the district was not given a formal AI policy and that existing policies do not address acceptable use, data privacy, academic integrity or disclosure. The district's letter to the State Education Department lists June 30, 2027 as the implementation date.

The source