Aztec Schools Adopt Districtwide Policy Restricting Classroom AI Use

Aztec Municipal Schools has adopted Policy 1-6450, a district-level framework that establishes guardrails for classroom use of artificial intelligence. The policy, approved at the Nov. 9 board meeting, arrives as school systems across the tri-county area wrestle with how to balance AI’s instructional benefits against risks to student privacy and academic integrity.

Under the policy, student and staff use of AI are governed by distinct rules. Students will receive age-appropriate instruction about AI and its uses, and the policy prohibits students from using AI to generate and submit work that is not original unless a teacher explicitly allows it. The policy also forbids use of AI for tests or assignments intended to bypass learning objectives and bans feeding personal information into AI tools or using AI to harass others.

For staff, the policy restricts AI use in circumstances that require final human decisions, including grading and hiring, and limits instructional AI use to district-approved tools. The district requires professional development and training for instructional staff to ensure teachers understand both the potential and the limitations of AI in classroom settings.

The policy aligns with statewide guidance published by the New Mexico Public Education Department in May 2025, and positions Aztec as one of the first local districts to formalize detailed classroom rules. Nearby districts are at various stages: Farmington Municipal, Central Consolidated, and Navajo Prep continue drafting or applying their own AI guidance, leaving families and educators across the region watching how implementation unfolds in practice.

Local impacts will be practical and immediate. Teachers will need time and resources to complete required training and to transition instructional materials to approved platforms. Students and families should expect clearer definitions of academic misconduct related to AI-generated work and tighter limits on what information may be shared with AI tools. Administrators will have to establish processes to vet and approve specific AI products before those tools can be used in classrooms.

Policy 1-6450 frames its approach as an attempt to preserve instructional integrity while permitting educational use of emerging technologies. How well the policy balances those goals will depend on implementation: the quality and accessibility of staff training, the transparency of the district’s tool-approval process, and enforcement practices when alleged misuse occurs. As neighboring districts complete their policies, Aztec’s approach will serve as a local reference point for lawmakers, school leaders, teachers, and families seeking practical, enforceable rules for AI in K-12 settings.