When more than 95,000 Katy ISD students walk into classrooms Wednesday, Aug. 12, a new set of rules will govern how they interact with artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Microsoft Copilot.

The district's Responsible AI Framework, presented to trustees at the July 20 Board Work Study meeting by assistant superintendent for teaching and learning Dr. Sanée Bell, splits student access into three tiers based on grade level. Katy ISD calls the approach "scaffolded access."

Here's what that means for families:

Elementary and sixth grade: No direct access. Students in kindergarten through sixth grade will not use generative AI chat tools directly. Teachers may still use approved instructional programs that incorporate AI as part of lessons, but students themselves won't be typing prompts into ChatGPT or similar platforms.

Seventh grade: Limited, supervised use. Seventh graders get their first exposure to generative AI, but only in structured, teacher-directed settings. A teacher must be supervising.

Eighth through 12th grade: Broader access with guardrails. Students at Katy High School, Seven Lakes High School, Tompkins High School and other secondary campuses may use district-approved generative AI tools for specific educational purposes, but only with prior teacher permission. Students must verify AI-generated information, follow academic-integrity requirements and disclose or cite AI use when appropriate.

Unauthorized use at any level can trigger consequences under the district's academic-integrity rules.

The framework draws a line between generative AI tools and other educational software that uses AI. Programs the district already approves for classroom instruction are not banned at any grade level, according to Covering Katy News, which first reported the grade-level breakdown.

"It's here. It's in our students' hands," Bell told trustees at the July 20 meeting.

The district describes its guiding philosophy as "AI as a tool, not a teacher." Bell said the question educators should ask before deploying AI is whether a given tool serves student learning and growth.

Superintendent Ken Gregorski listed the AI framework as one of six district priorities for 2026-2027 when he addressed nearly 14,000 staff members on Friday, Aug. 7, according to a district news release. The framework itself is posted on the district's AI Framework page, published July 17.

Katy ISD has called the framework a "living resource" expected to evolve through feedback from teachers, principals, students and families. No date for a formal public review has been announced.