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The School District of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania are preparing to launch an artificial intelligence professional development program for school employees in hopes of serving as a national model for bringing about change.
Starting in March 2025, the Pioneering AI in School System (PASS) program will be rolled out to select schools in the district and expand to other area schools and the nation, according to a joint statement from the School District of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School. The plan is to do so. Faculty of Education on Tuesday.
“Our goal is to leverage AI to foster creativity and critical thinking in students and develop policies to ensure this technology is used effectively and responsibly. At the same time, It’s about preparing both educators and students for a future where AI and technology increasingly play a central role,” said Catherine. O. Strunk, dean of the University of Pennsylvania’s Graduate School of Education, said in a statement.
Since the advent of generative artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, educators and school leaders have grappled with the implications of using this technology in the classroom. Advocates herald the AI revolution as an inevitable boon that will improve tracking of academic progress, save teachers time, and enable tutoring and personalization of curriculum. One survey of 1,020 teachers found that by the end of the 2023-2024 school year, about 60% of school districts said they plan to train teachers in the use of AI. Of note in the report is that urban areas like Philadelphia are reported to be the least likely to conduct such training.
But AI skeptics have major concerns about the inherent bias, inequity, and inaccuracy built into the technology, along with questions about where sensitive student and teacher data is sourced, stored, and handled. It has been announced.
Philadelphia Superintendent of Schools Tony Watlington praised the PASS program in a statement Tuesday, saying, “We want educators, school leaders, and school district administrators to be able to help ensure students are college- and career-ready. By providing them with the tools they need to succeed, we will help students improve their academic performance.” ”
According to a press release, the program has three phases.
Tier 1 for school district administrators: Focuses on strategic planning, governance, and policy development to help administrators build “a robust framework for AI integration that aligns with educational standards and goals.” . Tier 2 for school leaders: Focus on implementing AI tools. Tier 3 for educators: Classroom teachers will receive hands-on training in AI tools to “personalize learning, enhance instruction, and monitor student progress using AI-driven data.” Masu. Provide timely support. ”
The PASS pilot is at no cost to school districts and is being developed in partnership with the Pennsylvania Catalyst Education Center, according to a joint statement. The program is funded in part by the Philadelphia-based Marazzo Family Foundation.
Carly Citrin is Chalkbeat’s Philadelphia bureau chief. Contact Carly at csitrin@chalkbeat.org.
