Artificial intelligence (AI) is a technology every public school board member needs to understand. It has risks, it has benefits and — most importantly — it’s here, and your students, staff and community are already using it.

 are legion, and, in classrooms at both secondary and college levels, instructors struggle to identify and create consequences for unethical AI-generated work. But if this is all you know about AI, you and your board are missing an opportunity to unlock productivity and creativity tools to benefit you, your students and your community.

So, where to begin? And how do board members craft reasonable policies for AI use in local education? This was the heart of the discussion in a recent webinar, “Navigating AI in the Classroom: Policy and Ethical Considerations for K-12 Education.” Bringing together school board representatives and policy experts, the webinar covered where AI is now, what’s coming next and how school board members can be best prepared to handle AI’s many issues and possibilities.

 here, and read on for some of the highlights.

Chances are, you already use AI in daily life. It drives home device systems like Google Nest and Amazon Alexa, for example, and gives Siri a voice on iPhones. But there are several iterations of AI (so far), and AI’s potential continues to evolve.

In the webinar, Davelyn Smeltzer, Senior Director of Policy Services for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, describes the types:

 is based on predetermined issues, like Alexa answering a question about the weather. (It’s also known as “

 creates new content based on information it has or is learning from its environment. It has, according to some, 

, in which its responses are indistinguishable from humans’.

 indicates that AI has become self-aware — the stuff of much science fiction of the last century. We’re not there yet, but, as Smeltzer notes, we’re “on the precipice.”

She adds, “And so you can see that AI is not going away. It is just continuing. And as schools, we're going to have to take a look at this and learn how to deal with it.”

In addition to staying informed themselves, boards also are well served by educating their communities about the benefits and risks of AI. The Diligent Institute offers an 

AI Ethics & Board Oversight Certification

 for additional insight into the intersection of AI and board responsibility.

In this guide to safe and transparent AI governance in public education, learn how to streamline your AI policies and more.

Create an AI governance framework

Board members may feel unprepared to address AI use in policy, but 

absolutely falls under the board’s purview. The good news is, boards do not need to work on policies from scratch. Federal laws already offer guidance, many states have laws and state associations can provide model policies.

At the federal level, legislation such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act spell out data protections and individual rights that can 

Smeltzer shares an example at the state level: “The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission has a prohibition on using AI to make determinations regarding employment, recruitment, hiring, retention, promotion, transfer, evaluation, demotion or dismissal — so any employment decisions. We have a statement in there about prohibiting the use of generative AI in making final determinations on student assessments and evaluations.”

“Really, you can't remove the humans from the loop,” she says. “These need to be human decisions.”

Your board likely has existing policies governing the acceptable use of computers and network resources, staff and student conduct, copyright protection and more — these already detail much of what can be acceptable or unacceptable in classroom and staff use.

AI is more than a weather reporter or essay helper, and boards can already 

. Dottie Schindlinger, Executive Director of the Diligent Institute, talks about one way her team has explored AI as a helpful tool for boards:

“We're testing heavily how we can help our customers use generative AI in smart ways to help them do their jobs better and do board work better. For example, let's say you have a very, very long, lengthy board book. Your board clerk can take that board book and create an AI-generated one-page summary of the whole board book. They then have the ability to read and edit it.

“It’s not absolving you of reading your board materials, but once you've read all your board materials, it’s giving you a handy one-page summary to help jog your memory about the things that you just read. It can also generate what is called ‘insights,’ which are a list of questions or areas that it recommends that board members consider probing in the meeting.”

Next steps for boards working with AI policies

Boards must not only develop reasonable AI use policies, but also be prepared to update as needed — a responsibility that becomes time-sensitive with the rapid evolution of today’s technology tools. A board management solution like Diligent Community can be particularly useful here.

Sarah Gutierrez, Policy Implementation Manager at Diligent, says, “With Policy Publisher and our new program Diligent Community, you have this ability to revise your policies quickly, to share quickly with people, to get the right information at the right time for the right people, so that you're evaluating it quickly. If AI is moving quickly in the time that we've had this session, you may be wanting to revise those policies quickly as things change and make sure that something isn't out of date. So having some way to share information, collaborate on policies, collaborate on procedures — that's going to be key as well.”

Want more tips and insights from Diligent’s experts? 

What your school board must know to create today’s AI policies

 has come and gone, leaving the global community with much to reflect upon regarding sustainability and the critical role of the environmental, social, and governance (ESG) agenda.

This year's summit marked a pivotal moment for ESG professionals — not just as a continuation of ongoing conversations but as a definitive juncture for strategizing in a rapidly evolving landscape. As we examine the summit's key discussions and themes surrounding ESG, three takeaways stand out.

1. ESG disclosure: From optional to operational

One of the most striking shifts evident at COP29 was the move toward standardized and mandatory ESG disclosures. Building on frameworks like the 

 unveiled during the summit, the conversation around consistency in ESG reporting reached new heights. These principles aim to address inconsistencies across sectors and geographies, providing companies with a robust framework to integrate sustainability into their core strategies.

This shift signals a global call to action for companies, as voluntary ESG efforts give way to enforced regulations such as Europe’s 

Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD)

. Practitioners must prepare now by developing internal processes that align sustainability metrics with financial reporting standards.

Key questions for businesses to address include:

How can we ensure data accuracy and completeness?

Are our systems capable of adapting to evolving ESG frameworks across jurisdictions?

Technology will play a central role in answering these questions. COP29 highlighted the importance of adopting tools that streamline data collection, improve reporting accuracy, and provide actionable insights. 

 can track environmental impacts, monitor supply chain transparency, and align governance practices with broader ESG objectives. This isn’tjust about regulatory compliance; it’s about embedding sustainability into the heart of business operations.

For example, at Diligent, we’re conducting gap analyses and leveraging technology to 

ESG metrics. Organizations that invest in such technology now will not only ensure compliance but also gain a competitive edge, demonstrating leadership in sustainability while navigating the complexities of evolving standards.

The lesson is clear: preparation and capacity-building are non-negotiable. ESG isn’t a sprint to a single goal but a marathon requiring consistent effort.

2. Renewable energy and the challenge of transition

Another prominent theme was the continued push for renewable energy adoption, with COP29 recognizing both its potential and the disparities in accessibility across markets. For example, while the UK offers accessible renewable energy tariffs, other regions, including parts of the US, face significant infrastructural and accessibility gaps.

The implications for companies are twofold:

Seize opportunities where renewable energy is more accessible to position your organization as a leader while markets mature.

Plan for global standardization and increased accessibility by investing early in renewable energy transitions and aligning with net-zero goals.

Beyond compliance, these investments signal a company’s commitment to sustainability, fostering stakeholder trust. COP29’s discussions highlighted the strategic value of embedding renewable energy goals within broader ESG strategies, even as organizations navigate current challenges.

Technology will again play a vital role here. Advanced platforms enable organizations to monitor their energy usage, assess renewable energy options, and optimize transitions to cleaner power sources. These tools help companies stay ahead of regulatory requirements while fostering operational efficiencies and signaling their commitment to sustainable practices.

While markets vary, businesses must balance optimism with pragmatism — planning for gaps but remaining undeterred in progress.

3. Reframing ESG: From burden to strategic imperative

Skepticism around ESG often paints it as a bureaucratic burden, but COP29 reinforced the importance of viewing it as a strategic opportunity. Frameworks like the ISO ESG Implementation Principles and advanced reporting technologies enable companies to enhance accountability and transparency. These are not just moral imperatives — they are market differentiators in an increasingly eco-conscious world.

The summit challenged companies to embrace ESG as a driver of long-term resilience and innovation. Transparent practices and measurable progress are no longer optional — they're critical for maintaining investor confidence, securing access to capital, and aligning with consumer values.

Technology amplifies this opportunity by enabling companies to go beyond compliance. It provides actionable insights that inform strategic decisions, fosters innovation, and empowers businesses to lead with data-driven sustainability practices. Companies that 

 can better align their ESG initiatives with operational goals, creating a roadmap for success in a competitive, sustainability-focused market.

While a gap persists between lofty commitments and actionable results, ESG professionals must lead the charge in bridging it. This means building processes, fostering cross-departmental collaboration, and using technology to track progress effectively.

COP29 also emphasized that embracing ESG creates ripple effects: stronger brand loyalty, access to sustainable markets, and alignment with the future of global commerce. For organizations willing to lead, ESG represents a profound opportunity for growth and innovation.

Reflecting on COP29, it’s clear that the path to sustainability, while complex, is filled with potential. The summit demonstrated that climate action and sustainability remain paramount concerns, even amid economic or political uncertainty.

For ESG professionals, the message is unambiguous: this is our moment. Whether your company is directly impacted by regulatory changes or indirectly influenced through clients and partners, the time to act is now. By strengthening internal systems, capitalizing on early opportunities, and reframing ESG as a cornerstone of resilience, companies can lead with purpose.

Master sustainability and unlock growth opportunities with Diligent ESG — your all-in-one solution for data collection, reporting, and scaling with confidence.

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