Michigan Students to Help Shape National AI Policy for Schools

Michigan students are taking a leading role in shaping how artificial intelligence will be used in classrooms across the country. Ypsilanti Community Schools has been selected to represent the state at a groundbreaking national event where students will help write the policies governing AI in K-12 education.

This July, students and administrators from Ypsilanti will travel to Boston and Cambridge to participate in America's Youth AI Festival, an inaugural initiative created by Day of AI, an offshoot of MIT's RAISE initiative on K-12 AI education.

What Is the Youth AI Festival?

The festival, hosted by AASA, the School Superintendent Association, and Day of AI, brings together school leaders and students from across the nation. The program is designed to:

• Teach school leaders about the latest developments in AI technology

• Give students a voice in navigating AI opportunities and challenges

• Connect participants with leading MIT experts in artificial intelligence

• Develop practical policies for responsible AI use in public schools

At the core of this fellowship is a vital principle: if AI is going to be successfully integrated into public schools, students must have a seat at the table.

Michigan Students Become "AI Senators"

Two Ypsilanti High School students, Jeancia Mazama and LaMarea Tooson, will step into the role of national "Student AI Senators" during the gathering. They will convene at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute alongside peers from other states to explore how AI is fundamentally shaping schools and communities.

The students will engage in legislative and policy exploration, learning firsthand how policies are developed from the ground up. They will participate in thoughtful discussions about different perspectives surrounding the responsible and ethical use of AI in classrooms.

Meeting AI Experts at MIT

Participants will meet with leading MIT experts, including Cynthia Breazeal, director of MIT RAISE and one of Time Magazine's 100 most important people in AI. This direct access to world-renowned researchers gives students and educators unprecedented insight into the technology that will shape their futures.

Why Student Input Matters

The program is designed to build essential skills that go far beyond technology itself. It cultivates both AI literacy and civic leadership, encouraging engagement in critical discussions about responsible use of emerging technologies in education.

"Technology should serve the learner," said Alena Zachery-Ross, superintendent of Ypsilanti Community Schools. "Establishing clear, ethical and student-focused policies ensures that AI is used as a tool for equity and deeper understanding."

What's unique about this opportunity is that student senators will be writing policy for students, teachers, parents, and administrators. A national K-12 AI policy driven by student input ensures that guardrails protect scholars from risks while fully unlocking AI's immense benefits.

National Impact

Following the festival, AASA will share the new National AI Policy with its membership of more than 10,000 school leaders across the U.S. This means Michigan students are literally helping to write the playbook for the future of American education.

"We are stepping into a rapidly expanding world of artificial intelligence," Zachery-Ross said. "Let us ensure the policies governing this new frontier are not just handed down from above, but crafted by the very scholars whose lives will be most impacted by them."

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is America's Youth AI Festival?

A: America's Youth AI Festival is a national initiative in Boston and Cambridge where students and school leaders from across the U.S. work with MIT experts to develop policies for responsible AI use in K-12 education. It is hosted by AASA and Day of AI, an MIT initiative.

Q: Which Michigan students are participating in the AI policy development?

A: Jeancia Mazama and LaMarea Tooson, students at Ypsilanti High School, will serve as "Student AI Senators" representing Michigan at the festival. They will work alongside students from other states to craft national AI education policies.

Q: How will the AI policies created at the festival be used?

A: After the festival, AASA will distribute the National AI Policy to more than 10,000 school leaders across the United States, making it a guiding document for AI implementation in American public schools.