Board adopts K-12 Technology Framework and student AI usage levels

What happened

The Board reviewed and adopted (per the agenda's continuation items and accompanying second-reading policies) the new Madison K-12 Technology Framework for 2026-27, which sets a bell-to-bell personal device ban (Policy/Regulation 5516) for all grades K-12 and a graduated AI usage-level system (Policy 2365) ranging from full restriction in grades K-5 to a full Levels 0-4 framework in grades 9-12.

Why it matters to families

This is a district-wide, family-facing operating policy change affecting every student and classroom: personal phones/devices must be powered off and stored away from the opening to dismissal bell at all grade levels, and new mandatory AI disclosure/citation rules govern how students may use generative AI on assignments, with academic-integrity consequences for violations.

The evidence

Agenda item P26-27.06 lists 'Second Reading of Policies and Regulations: P2365 Acceptable Use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI)... P5516 Student Use of Internet Enabled Devices' and P26-27.05 lists 'Final Reading of Regulations: R5516 Student Use of Internet-Enabled Devices'; the accompanying briefing states 'From the opening bell to the dismissal bell, personal internet-enabled devices stay powered off and stored away — every student, every grade, K–12' and details the AI Usage Levels 0-4 with disclosure/citation requirements under Policy 2365.

The source