AILN
Boards

What Boards Should Ask Before Approving AI

A board-ready set of questions that turns vague AI updates into governance decisions.

Originally Published
March 16, 2026
Source
AI Literacy Network
Audience
School board members and policy leads
This AI Literacy Network resource is actively maintained to help teams move from awareness into practical action.

Boards need a clear governance lens

The board’s job is not to evaluate every tool in detail. The board’s job is to ask whether the district has a safe process for making those decisions.

That requires a small number of repeatable questions.

  • Who approved the use case?
  • What data is involved?
  • How will staff or families be informed?
  • What is the escalation path if the use changes?

Ask for a one-page summary

A one-page summary forces clarity on audience, scope, data, oversight, and follow-up.

If the summary cannot be written in one page, the board should slow the discussion down.