Artificial intelligence is transforming classrooms, bringing both excitement and questions to many within local learning communities. Parents in particular want to know how these tools impact their children’s learning—and districts have a huge opportunity to build trust, clear up misunderstandings, and rally families around this change.
By bringing parents along on the journey, schools not only reduce anxiety but also unlock support that can push student success to new heights.
Try these nine practical strategies as your district works to engage parents and foster meaningful involvement in the AI-driven classroom:
Parents appreciate clear, straightforward updates. Regular communication about the use of AI tools—how they’re benefiting students and what steps are in place to protect privacy—builds trust from the ground up.
Hosting hands-on workshops or virtual webinars help parents better understand the AI landscape. It’s a chance to demystify tools like ChatGPT, leaving parents empowered and ready to support their kids.
Our team can help you host learning opportunities like these during parent-teacher conferences or at your next parent information night. Contact your local RETC or visit our Custom PD hub to learn more →
AI policies work best when they’re shaped by everyone with a stake in the outcome. Inviting parents to join policy committees shows that their concerns are valued and keeps communication open from the start.
As you move through the policy-making process, you can also follow-up with parent advocacy groups and demonstrate how you’re incorporating their concerns into the final policy.
Giving parents access to practical resources like AI literacy toolkits allows them to stay informed. These materials offer tips on safe AI use at home and help align efforts between school and family life.
These resource from Ditch that Textbook and Internet Matters are a great place to start.
Nothing builds buy-in like being heard. Sending out surveys gives parents a voice in shaping how AI evolves in their child’s education and ensures decisions are collaborative.
When it’s possible, be sure to share survey results, too. This rewards parent participation and creates a positive feedback loop that encourages future participation.
Engage parents where they already spend time—through email and social media. Quick posts or regular newsletters keep families in the loop about new tools, learning trends, and success stories.
Parents need to know that their children are safe—including their data. Clear, upfront explanations about privacy policies and data safeguards can ease concerns and build confidence in your school’s AI use.
Who doesn’t love a good success story? Sharing examples of how AI tools have improved learning outcomes allows parents see the positive impact these technologies can have on their children’s education.
Every parent – like every student- should feel included in your learning community. Offering multilingual materials and ensuring digital accessibility helps bridge communication gaps while creating an inclusive dialogue that incorporates diverse viewpoints.
AI isn’t just a tool—it’s a team effort. When districts engage parents through transparency, collaboration, and celebration, they can turn potential concerns into powerful partnerships.
Involving families as your district works toward AI adoption not only builds trust but helps students thrive in this new era of education. Focus on parent engagement now, and your district can keep an essential part of its learning community in focus, no matter where AI’s potential leads next.
Large or small, suburban or rural, your district can count on the LTC to provide actionable insights on emergent educational technology – including AI policy creation and classroom integration.
Explore our library of resources for K-12 leaders or contact us to learn more about our latest AI-focused professional learning opportunities.
Tim directs the Learning Technology Center, providing strategic leadership, expertise, and operational management for statewide technology and digital learning initiatives.
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