The Back-to-School AI Conversation Every Family Should Have
Artificial intelligence is becoming another school supply, whether it appears on the official list or not.
Students can now use AI to brainstorm ideas, explain difficult concepts, create study questions, edit their writing and complete many other school-related tasks. But as these tools become more common, parents and students are facing an important question: where does helpful support end and academic dishonesty begin?
I recently joined CTV Morning Live to discuss how families can approach AI use during the school year. You can watch the full conversation here.
What is Saskatchewan’s policy on AI in schools?
At this time, there is no single provincial guideline governing the use of artificial intelligence in Saskatchewan schools.
Some school divisions have introduced guidance, but many decisions are still being made by individual schools and teachers. This means the rules may be different from one classroom or assignment to another.
Saskatoon Public Schools has introduced a framework in its high schools that allows teachers to explain how AI may be used for a particular task. Depending on the assignment, students may be told:
No AI is permitted
AI may be used for ideas and structure
AI may be used for editing
AI may act as a learning partner
AI may be used with human oversight
The safest rule for students is simple: never assume. Ask the teacher what is permitted before using AI.
Should AI be allowed in classrooms?
There is a great deal of debate about whether AI belongs in education at all.
For me, a useful dividing line is whether AI is supporting the student’s thinking or replacing it.
AI is a tool students will likely use throughout their education, careers and everyday lives. Banning it completely may leave them unprepared for that reality. However, giving students unrestricted access without teaching them how to use it responsibly creates a different set of risks.
Students need to understand that AI can provide incorrect or misleading information while sounding completely confident. They must learn to question its answers, verify information and recognize when something does not seem right.
That is why AI literacy is quickly becoming an essential part of digital literacy. Young people need opportunities to learn how these tools work, where they fall short and how to use them without giving up their own judgment.
Three questions every parent can ask
Parents do not need to be AI experts to help their children make responsible decisions. Start with these three questions:
What does your teacher allow for this assignment?
How did AI help you, and what work did you do yourself?
Would you feel comfortable telling your teacher exactly how you used it?
If the answer to the third question is no, that is a strong indication the student may be crossing a boundary.
These questions can also help families turn AI into an ongoing conversation about learning, honesty and responsibility. It is much better to establish expectations before a problem occurs than to wait until a student is accused of academic dishonesty.
AI should support the student, not become the student
AI can be a useful tutor, brainstorming partner or study assistant. It can explain a concept in a new way, suggest questions for a practice quiz or help a student organize their thoughts.
But it should not become the student.
The goal of school is not simply to produce a polished assignment. It is to develop the student’s knowledge, judgment, creativity and individual voice.
Before using AI for schoolwork, students should:
Ask permission
Understand the rules for the assignment
Protect their personal information
Verify the information AI provides
Be transparent about how the tool was used
The technology will continue to evolve, but these principles can help families navigate it. When students learn to use AI thoughtfully and honestly, they are not only protecting their academic integrity. They are developing skills they will need for a future in which AI is likely to be part of almost everything they do.