Washington State Leans Into AI In Public Schools

As mentioned in The Columbian, Washington State’s proactive embrace of artificial intelligence in education marks a pivotal shift from the reactive posture many institutions took during the rise of social media. By adopting the H-AI-H (“human, AI, human”) framework, OSPI is setting a national example for how to integrate AI responsibly — as a complement, not a replacement, for human judgment. As Microsoft President Brad Smith noted, the focus is on using AI as a tool to enhance teaching, personalize learning, and streamline operations, rather than a shortcut that erodes critical thinking.  

Just as Washington educators are demonstrating, AI can empower teachers to design richer lessons, give students personalized feedback, and reclaim time for meaningful instruction. The key lies in structured oversight, digital literacy, and transparency — ensuring students learn not only with AI, but also about AI. As Superintendent Chris Reykdal put it, the real danger isn’t in embracing the technology — it’s in ignoring it.

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Microsoft President Brad Smith explained Tuesday during the Cascadia Innovation Corridor Conference in Seattle that his Washington-based tech company has been working with schools and technical and community colleges to view AI as a tool. School districts, he said, can harness it to create streamlined bus schedules, for instance, or to make the most of tight budgets.

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