FCPS updates media curriculum and digital-tool oversight; staff urge balanced AI guidance as parents press for more print

At the June CNI meeting, Ms. Jody Jankowsky, supervisor of media services, and Mr. Eric Haynes, supervisor of digital learning experience, presented curriculum updates and operational changes to how the district approves and supports digital tools.

Jody Jankowsky said recent COMAR updates require every school to have a library media program, a certified media specialist and direct instruction in media literacy. She described a curricular realignment from four strands to three'culture of reading, digital literacy and inquiry'to balance instructional weight across units. "Another one of our big focuses this summer in curriculum writing is going to be around artificial intelligence at all grade levels," Jankowsky said, adding the curriculum team will address how AI works, ethical use and proper crediting.

Eric Haynes told the committee the digital learning team supports more than 70 tools, manages rostering and Clever sharing rules, supports textbook selection, and handled "over 2,000 tickets this year" for teacher support and troubleshooting. He described a consolidated approval list for digital tools and noted accessibility reviews tied to Maryland 7-910.

Both presenters said they co-chair an AI leadership team in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and are preparing for an advisory role and a board-level policy. Haynes said initial discussion on a board AI policy is scheduled to go to the policy committee June 24.

During Q&A several board members and parents criticized heavy Chromebook and screen use and urged more print textbooks and monitored in-class writing. One board member said, "I think the way that we're doing technology in FCPS sucks, period," and urged returning to more supervised computer labs and paper textbooks. Staff responded that the district is intentionally re-emphasizing print and handwriting in many courses and that technology adoption predates the pandemic; they said the district aims for a balanced approach and is purchasing paper texts and handwriting materials.

On academic integrity and AI detection, staff said AI-detection tools are unreliable and MSDE does not endorse them. "AI detectors as a whole are pretty unreliable," a presenter said, and staff urged teacher-based judgment, comparing new submissions to prior student work and engaging students in conversations about process and citation. The presenters said they are planning teacher training and operational guidance tied to any eventual policy.

The meeting did not adopt a formal AI policy; staff said they are preparing recommendations and an advisory structure to operationalize guidance if and when the board approves policy action.