Maine School District Creates AI Handbook for Students

If you've got a kid in the Gorham school system, they might be coming home this summer with some light reading. And no, it's not a beach novel. It's a 20-page handbook about artificial intelligence.

According to WGME, Gorham Public Schools just wrapped up their brand new AI handbook, which has apparently been in the works for over a year. The timing is intentional. Wednesday was the last day of school, so the hope is students will use the summer to actually read the thing before the 2026 school year kicks off. Whether that happens or not, well, that's between them and their parents.

The handbook breaks down AI use by grade level. Little ones in Pre-K through Grade 2? That's a hard no for students. Only teachers can use it. Grades 3 through 8 get some guided exposure with a teacher involved. And high schoolers get the most freedom with expanded independent use. So basically, the older you are, the more Gorham trusts you not to let a robot write your book report, the news station reported.

Speaking of which, that's still off limits. No using AI to write essays, no using it to cheat on tests. If you violate the handbook, it falls under the district's academic integrity policy, which is a fancy way of saying you're going to have a very uncomfortable conversation with your parents.

WGME went on to explain that Superintendent Heather Perry made it clear this isn't about demonizing AI. She pointed out that students are going to encounter it in the workforce, so learning to use it responsibly now actually matters. Some Gorham High students told WGME they're already using it. One said it helps him with math, which, honestly, fair enough.

And for what it's worth, students also admitted the high school has been pretty lenient about enforcement so far. So maybe that handbook for staff, which is apparently in the works, can't come soon enough.