Maya McFadden photo
Redd-Hannans, on AI: "It's here. We have to embrace it."
New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) has put together a draft version of a new artificial intelligence (AI) policy — and is working to implement a privacy-protected AI tool — with the goal of helping educators and students generate classroom discussion questions, get feedback on assignments, and conduct research, but not plagiarize.
NHPS Asst. Supt. Keisha Redd-Hannans presented an early draft of the district’s proposed AI policy during the Board of Education’s latest meeting at John C. Daniels School last Monday.
The policy — which Redd-Hannans confirmed was reviewed by AI — is designed to be referenced by teachers and students when making use of AI during classroom instruction.
“It’s here. We have to embrace it,” Redd-Hannans, who is a 2025 Google GSV Education Innovation Fellow, told the board about AI.
She said that NHPS should only allow AI use if it’s done within a district-vetted AI tool that is “in alignment with our privacy and security guidelines.”
The district policy comes as Redd-Hannans said educators, administrators, and students are already making use of their own AI tools. She emphasized that the tool, once selected and approved by NHPS’ IT department, will aim to improve educator retention through additional instructional support, student toolkits, and operational efficiency.
AI will “support but not substitute” teachers and critical learning, she added.
“I think this should be a part of our retention tool kit,” she said.
She said use of AI in the district has already helped make staff more efficient in their work and should continue to do so. But, she said, it must be on a regulated NHPS-approved tool to avoid giving companies access to students’ private information.
NHPS’ AI policy committee was made up of teachers, administrators, central office staff, and the IT department. The IT department is currently working with the city to select the specific tool NHPS will use.
The proposed policy states, “AI can serve as a tool to support learning but it will never replace the essential human capacities (critical thinking, creativity, communication, empathy, and resilience).”
Redd-Hannans said it is crucial that when using AI, staff and students avoid “plagiarism and propagation of misinformation, bias, or harmful content.” She said all use of AI must be cited.
She encouraged the use of AI for lesson planning, creating class assignments, providing feedback on work, conducting research, or challenging students to improve digital literacy skills.
“We should challenge what we see AI generating, not just take it at value,” just like with any other research process, she said.
The draft policy also requires that AI be used under teacher guidance, meaning teachers must clearly state whether they approve or disapprove of AI use for class work.
Redd-Hannans said AI has helped her with her speechwriting, ensuring that her speeches focus on the critical points she intends them to. It also has helped her brainstorm new ideas and create project management timelines.
The draft policy also requires that teachers show students first how to use AI responsibly. This will be possible through two trainings for educators this coming academic year. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) will offer a training for teachers and admin, and Google will offer professional development in AI responsibility for educators “in order for it to trickle down to our students.”
The district will also aim to provide educators with the equipment necessary for AI use in classrooms to be sure it is accessible to all and that its use isn’t reliant on personal devices.
Redd-Hannans concluded, “We have a commitment that as we move forward we will have an AI committee of staff, students, parents, and community members to guide the integration of AI in NHPS.”
The school board hasn’t yet voted on whether or not to implement the policy.
In a comment sent to the Independent on Sunday, Board of Education student representative Career High School rising junior Abdellah Aly said, “I want to tell the public that this is NOT a full ban on AI. AI will always be there, no matter what, there is nothing we can do about it, however, we should embrace it, and that is what we decided on.”
Aly continued: “AI will ONLY be used for the following: Helping decide if a student’s writing is good, suggestions on possible changes the student should make, and other things that follow in this sort of category. However, students may NOT be allowed to literally copy paste from AI, those students who are caught doing so will face possible repercussions if they cannot defend.”
Aly noted during last Monday’s school board meeting that students in the past have been accused of AI use when it was not used. “AI checkers make mistakes, you could have a fully made hand-written essay that you spent days on and something could get flagged,” he said in his comment to the Independent. “That is why the student whom is reported for such thing will be allowed to explain himself. The use of AI will not be discouraged, it is a tool, and it should stay that way.”
See NHPS’ draft AI policy in full below.