South Kingstown to pilot Khan Academy at high school as equity audit work begins

South Kingstown Superintendent Michael Pedraza said the district will enroll South Kingstown High School in an 18‑month Khan Academy/KhanMigo pilot aimed at supplementing instruction for grades 9–12.

“The agreements have been vetted, looked into as well as the privacy agreements,” Pedraza said, adding that “there is no cost at this time.” He emphasized the district intends the tool as a supplement, not a replacement for teachers.

Pedraza also briefed the committee on the district’s equity audit, led by Westwind and EdMetric. He said the consultants will conduct in‑person focus groups and interviews in the last week of January, and that sessions will require prior consent and appropriate background checks for interviewers working with students. Focus groups are expected to be about 10 people and last roughly an hour, and one‑on‑one student interviews will take about 30 minutes.

Committee members asked how usage and outcomes will be measured and whether the program will be mandatory. Pedraza said the district will present demonstrations and usage reports to the committee and track multiple data points — including cohort growth and usage rates — to assess whether the tool contributes to targeted instructional gains.

Several members also voiced caution about adopting AI features and corporate partnerships. One committee member said, “It’s not a one‑size‑fits‑all,” and cited concerns about data and long‑term costs. Pedraza responded that the pilot will allow the district to evaluate the tool’s instructional fit and privacy safeguards before any broader rollout.

Pedraza said the district will provide professional development for teachers and bring a demonstration to a future meeting so the committee can see what the tool can and cannot do. He recommended continuing to monitor costs and privacy as the pilot proceeds.