Orange County Public Schools approves first AI policy for classrooms
Orange County Public Schools approved its first AI policy on July 28, 2026, after 20,000 survey responses, setting rules for teachers and students.
Photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels
Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) in Florida approved its first Orange County Public Schools AI policy at a school board meeting on July 28, 2026, setting rules for how teachers and students can use artificial intelligence when classes resume, according to Spectrum News 13. The district collected 20,000 survey responses from teachers and parents during development, and each school board member held a town hall meeting with students to gather input before the vote.
The policy takes effect August 11, 2026, the first day back to school for OCPS students, one of Florida’s largest districts. It replaces the district’s earlier approach of blocking consumer AI platforms such as ChatGPT on its network while officials reviewed potential classroom uses, a stance OCPS chief information officer Maurice Draggon described to WFTV in a report on the policy’s development.
What the Orange County Public Schools AI policy allows
Under the policy, teachers set their own classroom guidelines for AI use in writing at the start of the school year and must share them with students and parents, board member Maria Salamanca, who represents District 2, told Spectrum News 13. Students may use AI for background research on a topic before completing an assignment, but cannot use it to produce work submitted for grading unless a teacher gives written permission.
Students and staff are restricted to district-approved AI systems, a measure intended to protect student data, according to board member Stephanie Vanos of District 6. Vanos said she supports the overall policy but voted against it because it contains no provision letting parents opt their children out of AI use entirely. Separately, WFTV reported that staff must remain responsible for high-stakes decisions, including grading, and cannot rely solely on AI to make them.
The district will not use AI-detection tools to check whether students relied too heavily on AI for an assignment; teachers must instead find other ways to assess a student’s work, per Spectrum News 13. Salamanca and Vanos both said the policy will need to be reviewed and updated each school year as AI technology and state standards continue to change.
How the policy compares with other district and state actions
OCPS joins a growing list of US school systems adopting formal AI rules ahead of the 2026-27 school year. Katy ISD in Texas bars elementary students in kindergarten through 6th grade from open-ended generative AI tools, limiting younger students to district-approved, curriculum-embedded platforms. Charleston County School District in South Carolina approved its districtwide policy in January 2026 and spent the summer training teachers to use AI under guardrails rather than restrict it outright. Maryland has set a fall 2026 deadline for all school districts statewide to adopt an AI policy.
| District / state | Scope | Key restriction | Effective |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange County Public Schools (FL) | All students and staff | District-approved AI tools only; no AI for graded work without permission | Aug 11, 2026 |
| Katy ISD (TX) | K-6 students | Bars open-ended generative AI tools for younger students | 2026 |
| Charleston County (SC) | All students and staff | Teacher training under districtwide guardrails | 2026-27 school year |
| Maryland (statewide) | All districts | Deadline for every district to adopt a policy | Fall 2026 |
The comparison shows OCPS taking a permissive-but-controlled approach, similar to Charleston County, rather than the grade-based restrictions Katy ISD applies to its youngest students.
Background
Orange County Public Schools, based in Orlando, Florida, serves one of the largest student populations in the state. The district began drafting AI guidance in 2025, when it blocked consumer platforms such as ChatGPT from its network while it studied classroom applications, and continued refining the proposal through school board discussions in April, May and July 2026, according to WFTV’s coverage of the process. The final policy adopted July 28, 2026 reflects input gathered through parent and teacher surveys and student town halls, and board members say it will be revisited annually as AI tools and state guidance evolve.
Sources: Spectrum News 13 (mynews13.com); WFTV Channel 9 Orlando
Featured image: photo by Yan Krukau on Pexels (free Pexels license).
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I specialize in sustainability education, curriculum co-creation, and early-stage project strategy. At WINSS, I craft articles on sustainability, transformative AI, and related topics. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me chasing the perfect sushi roll, exploring cities around the globe, or unwinding with my dog Puffy — the world’s most loyal sidekick.
