With the first day of school less than three weeks away, the Shawnee Mission School District is working on guidance for how artificial intelligence and classroom technology should be used this year. Students from first through seventh grade, along with high school freshmen, are scheduled to return to class on Aug. 12.
The Shawnee Mission Board of Education is discussing a proposed educational technology guidebook intended to set classroom expectations for AI, iPad use, and student screen time. The proposal has drawn growing attention from parents during board discussion.
District leaders say technology should stay focused on learning rather than distraction. The superintendent described a preference for instructional use only, while parents who spoke about the issue said they support classroom technology but want clearer, balanced guidelines that also protect opportunities to build core skills like handwriting, keyboarding, and independent learning.
No plan tied to the guidebook has received final approval yet. The district’s policy work is still underway as families prepare for the start of the new school year, with the board continuing to weigh how to manage classroom tech expectations for students of different grade levels, from early elementary through high school.