Calls for a moratorium on classroom AI are gaining traction in Chicago's school board races, as candidates argue the district should pull back before the technology becomes more deeply woven into instruction.
Here's what to know
Chalkbeat reported that 24 of the 45 candidates running for Chicago's first fully elected school board have signed a pledge calling for a three-year pause on AI use by Chicago Public Schools students and educators.
Illinois Families for Public Schools, a nonprofit, wrote the pledge. Its demands include no school screen time before third grade, less screen time in later grades, and a district chief privacy officer alongside a halt on collecting student biometric data, including voice recordings.
The push is meant to protect student privacy and preserve critical thinking at a moment when software can instantly produce answers.
Cassie Creswell, head of Illinois Families for Public Schools, said, "The risks of AI are absolutely outweighing the benefits right now."
Debby Pope, an appointed board member, retired educator, and candidate in District 2b, told Chalkbeat she signed the pledge because of concerns AI could undermine students' creativity, writing skills, and ability to ferret out misinformation.
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"It's extremely important to take an approach of caution and care so we raise a generation that has critical thinking abilities and understands the importance of using multiple sources of information," she said.
More background
A blanket ban, however, doesn't have universal support. Janice Jackson, the former CPS CEO who now leads the Education and Society Program at the Aspen Institute, said schools still need to teach students how to use a technology that is quickly becoming part of everyday life.
"I think an outright ban is unproductive, and it really negates our responsibility, which is to come up with better solutions so our kids can both access this stuff, but also so that we don't do irreparable harm to them," Jackson said.
For its part, the district said it has taken what it called a "deliberate, responsible approach to artificial intelligence." It said Illinois State Board of Education guidance for districts points to CPS' AI guidebook as an example.
Officials had also weighed a plan that would have let high school students use Gemini, Google's AI chatbot, through Google Classroom accounts. The idea was paused in May after teacher feedback "to prioritize individual school readiness and educator training."
Other candidates said they share many of the same concerns about student technology use but are reluctant to sign onto a sweeping, yearslong policy.
Ellen Rosenfeld, who is running unopposed in District 4b, said, "I am concerned that on AI, we are building the plane while we're flying it."
What's being done?
Chalkbeat reported that Illinois has adopted limits on student cellphone use in schools, Los Angeles approved a policy banning screen time before second grade, and New York City is introducing restrictions on student AI use in elementary and middle school.
Within CPS, leaders said they are trying to build those guardrails rather than set the technology aside. The district said high school students helped form a Student Voice AI Council and draft a Student AI Playbook.
Jackson said schools should not simply stop using technology and leave students unprepared.
"I don't think we get rid of technology and educate a bunch of kids who don't know how to use these tools efficiently, because that doesn't set them up for success," Jackson said. "But I do think it's a moment to take a step back and make sure there are guardrails in place."
Where can I learn more?
Chicago's fight over AI fits into a broader set of school battles over what belongs in the classroom and how fast districts should move.
• In Chicago, parents and students rallied behind a school plan pressing CPS toward sweeping change.
• In Illinois, a student activist pushed climate education legislation into the statewide curriculum debate.
• In Boulder, Colorado, students won a proposal for schools after pressing their board to act.
• In Texas, a school board rejected science textbooks that were critical of dirty energy.
School systems can become proving grounds for larger arguments over classroom priorities and who should set them. That's why the fight over AI has become a hot-button issue in the school board campaign.
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