WVDE AI Guidance 1.2: Key Updates and What They Mean for Rural West Virginia Schools
West Virginia’s Department of Education just released Version 1.2 of its “Guidance, Considerations, and Intentions for the Use of Artificial Intelligence in West Virginia Schools.” Although the document runs more than 40 pages, three new elements stand out—and they will shape how rural districts roll out AI tools in classrooms, offices, and after-school programs. Here is a concise walk-through, followed by practical next steps.
Why Version 1.2 Matters
AI adoption is accelerating, but rural schools juggle limited bandwidth, smaller tech teams, and heightened community scrutiny. WVDE’s latest guidance gives counties a common playbook for balancing innovation and student safety, while mapping AI work to existing state policies and career-readiness goals .
What Changed in This Update
A new “Emerging Risks” section zeroes in on AI companion apps—software that markets itself as a virtual friend or therapist. WVDE flags five hazards (addiction cycles, stalled social-skill growth, unrealistic body-image cues, mental-health impacts, and weak privacy protections) and offers talking-point ideas for counselors and families .
The glossary now defines cutting-edge terms such as agentic AI and self-replication, helping educators translate vendor jargon into plain language .
Appendix 3 debuts a one-page checklist that prompts teachers to vet prompts for bias, document AI use, and gather student feedback before, during, and after each lesson .
The version-history table confirms that 1.2 is only the third public release—but it is the first to introduce a brand-new risk domain .
Six Guiding Commitments for Districts
WVDE urges every county to adopt procedures that:
Use AI to help all students meet educational goals, with a focus on closing digital-access gaps.
Align every AI tool with existing privacy, accessibility, and content-safety policies.
Build AI literacy for staff and students so they understand how and when to use the technology.
Balance opportunity and risk, paying close attention to bias and misinformation.
Promote a culture of academic integrity—students must still produce their own work and cite sources.
Keep humans in the loop; audit and refresh AI practices on a regular schedule .
Spotlight on AI Companion Apps
These chat-based “virtual friends” are growing fast and often target isolated teens. WVDE recommends:
District-wide awareness campaigns that explain privacy gaps and mental-health risks.
Promotion of balanced tech habits—offline clubs, esports with face-to-face teamwork, and community service—to offset screen time.
Family toolkits that teach parents how to spot overuse and initiate supportive conversations .
Action Steps for Rural Stakeholders
RoleImmediate To-DosSuperintendents & Innovation LeadsLaunch a 30-day review of current AI pilots against the six commitments; update AUP and data-sharing agreements accordingly.Principals & CTE CoordinatorsShare the Appendix 3 checklist with teachers during summer PD; set up lesson-study groups to test it.Classroom TeachersMap every AI activity to state standards; log prompts and student feedback for continuous improvement.Funders & Community PartnersAlign grant proposals with WVDE’s plan-of-action pillars, especially AI-literacy PD and privacy-first infrastructure .Parents & GuardiansAttend district forums on AI risks; model healthy tech-life balance at home.
Getting Started
All WV educators can self-enroll in WVDE’s AI Canvas hub, which houses lesson templates, model policies, and PD modules. Instructions appear in Appendix 1 of the guidance .
The Bottom Line
Version 1.2 doesn’t ban or mandate specific tools; it clarifies guard-rails so rural educators can experiment without drifting into legal or ethical gray zones. By pairing the new checklist with the six district commitments—and by addressing companion-app risks up front—county teams can turn AI from a headline issue into a manageable, mission-aligned resource.