Family Guide

AI in Lake Oswego Schools: Protecting Your Child

How LOSD families can safeguard student focus, data privacy, mental health, and independent learning from Big Tech’s AI push.

What is Generative AI?

Many educational apps, digital tools, and search engines now incorporate automated models trained on massive datasets. Generative AI (GenAI) refers to software that generates text, images, summary notes, or computer code based on statistical patterns in data. Because AI is an experimental technology pushed rapidly into K-12 classrooms and consumer software, families must take proactive steps to protect their children's cognitive development, mental well-being, and personal privacy.

Current AI Policy in Lake Oswego School District

  • K–8 Grade Levels: LOSD maintains a superintendent directive limiting student AI use. However, Google’s AI Overview function remains active on search results on district-issued Chromebooks, bringing automated summaries directly into everyday research.
  • 9–12 High School Grades (LOHS & LHS): Parents and guardians can opt their high school students out of district-approved GenAI applications simply by contacting school or district administration via email.

Where AI “Sneaks” into Everyday Homework

Many parents assume AI usage only means students directly prompting standalone bots like ChatGPT or Claude. In reality, generative AI and automated processing are routinely built into standard digital tools students use daily:

Search Platforms:

Google AI Overviews generate automated answers directly at the top of search result pages.

Writing & Grammar Software:

Adaptive writing assistants (Grammarly, Brisk, Docs' Smart Compose) go beyond spellcheck to suggest full sentence rewrites, tone changes, or outline generation.

Instructional Platforms:

Adaptive reading and math programs (Khanmigo, Amira, Lexia) use real-time AI algorithms to analyze student speech, speed, and error patterns.

The Reality: AI is Hardwired into Every Consumer Device

Beyond ed-tech in classroom software, Big Tech has built generative AI directly into operating systems, search engines, and hardware of personal devices kids use every day:

Operating System Level:

Apple Intelligence and Samsung Galaxy AI place writing assistants, auto-summarization, photo generation, and smart replies into system menus, text messaging, and native notes apps.

Everyday Web Search:

Search engines default to AI Overviews or AI Mode at the top of query results, serving automated summaries before a user ever clicks a link or evaluates an original source.

Social Media & Messaging Apps:

Platforms like Snapchat (My AI), Meta (Instagram/WhatsApp AI), and TikTok build persistent conversational bots directly into chat feeds, encouraging real-time interaction with synthetic personas.

Because AI is pushed by default across all consumer tech, protecting kids requires system-level intervention on personal devices alongside district-level choices.

Research-Backed Harmful Effects of GenAI in K-12

1. Critical Thinking

Skill Atrophy & Resilience

  • Cognitive Offloading: Over-reliance on automated summaries reduces independent problem-solving and original writing capabilities.
  • Lower Distress Tolerance: Outsourcing tasks deprives teens of “productive struggle,” leading to lower distress tolerance over time.
  • Faculty Consensus: College Board survey found 84% of educators agree AI reduces critical thinking/originality, and 88% expressed deep concern over dependency.
2. Mental Health

Pseudo-Relational Dependence

  • Emotional Refuge: Youth using conversational AI tools for emotional support report higher rates of anxiety and psychological distress.
  • Algorithmic Sycophancy: Always-affirming chatbot interactions create pseudo-friendships that substitute for essential real-world relationships.
3. Data Privacy

Unintended Exploitation

  • Incomplete Anonymization: Even “de-identified” behavioral data, search queries, and written text can often be re-identified or leveraged to train commercial models.
  • Security Risks: Increases the surface area for unauthorized data exposure and harvesting.
4. Environment & Instruction

Resources & Connection

  • Environmental Impact: High-frequency operational queries double energy consumption and strain electricity and water for cooling data centers.
  • Disruption of Instruction: AI must not substitute for human connection, mentorship, and dialogue between teachers and students.

How to Limit AI Features on Personal Phones & Devices

iOS Devices (iPhones / iPads)
  • Turn Off Apple Intelligence: Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Toggle Off.
  • Disable Writing Tools: Settings > Apple Intelligence > App Permissions.
  • Restrict App Installs & Domains: Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions to block AI domains (chatgpt.com, claude.ai).
Android & Samsung Devices
  • Samsung Galaxy AI: Settings > Galaxy AI (or Advanced Features > Galaxy AI) > Toggle off Note Assist, Writing Assist, or Photo Assist.
  • Google Pixel / Search: Settings > Customize Pixel Search Box (or Google App preferences) to turn off AI Mode / AI Overviews.
Mobile & Home Web Browsers
  • Disable Search Summaries: Use browser extensions (e.g., Hide Google AI Overviews).
  • Switch Search Engines: Default to browsers/search engines without summary blocks (e.g., DuckDuckGo).

Action Steps for Parents

1. Protecting Your Child at School

  • Opt Out (Grades 9–12): Email LOHS/LHS administration to request non-AI instructional pathways.
  • Request Search Adjustments (K–8): Ask school to restrict Google AI Overviews on your child's account.
  • Engage with LOSD Board: Demand strong data privacy contracts, strict screen-time limits, and hard technical guardrails.

2. Consistent Home Guardrails

  • Brain First, Screen Second: Draft outlines, brainstorm, and write initial drafts on paper first.
  • Help vs. Substitution: Treat AI like an eager peer—fine for checking a fact, but never for summarizing books or solving equations.
  • Audit Browser Extensions: Check for unauthorized AI extensions on student accounts.

5 Questions to Ask Your Child’s Teacher or Principal

Use these direct questions to bring clarity to how technology is used in your child's classroom:

  1. Which classroom platforms or assignments use embedded AI features?
  2. How does the teacher ensure students build core reading, writing, and problem-solving skills independently before introducing digital tools?
  3. What offline or analog alternatives (paper, physical books, oral discussions) are available when digital platforms are assigned?
  4. Is student work or interaction data processed by third-party vendors to train their underlying algorithms?
  5. How does the school verify that student privacy and work products are protected under vendor data-sharing agreements?

Helpful Digital Wellness & AI Resources

Parent Coalition for Student Privacy • Schools Beyond Screens • ODE Digital Learning & AI Guidance