What changed this week
for AI at home and at school
Hey Big Thinker. If your school uses Microsoft tools like Word, Teams or Copilot, something changed on November 1. Every US school district can now hold Microsoft, in a contract, to 10 promises about student data, including never training AI on it, selling it or using it for ads.
We think it's good news, though it covers one company and only the tools students use for school. Below: what the promises are, three conversations to have this week (whether you're a parent, teacher or school leader), and a 20-minute AI detective game for kids at home or in class.
IN THIS ISSUE
01 News: Microsoft puts 10 student-data promises in writing
02 Practical tips: three conversations about student data
03 Activity: become an AI detective
NEWS
Your school can now hold Microsoft to 10 student-data promises
WHAT HAPPENED
On September 9, Microsoft, the American Federation of Teachers and New York City's United Federation of Teachers announced the AI Safety & Privacy Standard for schools. Since November 1, any US school district can add its 10 protections to new or existing Microsoft agreements, with no renegotiation, and enforce them like any other contract term.
WHY IT MATTERS
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Until now, promises like these mostly lived in privacy policies a company could rewrite. In a contract, a district can act if they're broken. The standard covers Microsoft only, though AFT president Randi Weingarten says OpenAI and Anthropic may join later. It also stops at school tools, so the free apps students use on their own aren't included.
Sources: Microsoft fact sheet · Fortune
THOUGHTS FROM THE EXPERTS
This is the first time a big tech company has put student-data promises into a contract schools can enforce, and it happened because teachers asked for it. It doesn't settle whether AI belongs in every classroom. It does give parents, teachers and school leaders a fair question to ask together: if Microsoft can sign this, why not every AI tool students use?
— Justin & Will
PRACTICAL TIPS
Three moves to make this week
For parents, teachers and school leaders. All three are conversations about what kids share with AI.
01
Ask kids what they share with AI
Sit together for ten minutes and scroll back through a recent AI chat. Look for names, photos, addresses or anything personal. Teachers can do the same with a class using a made-up example. Try: "Is there anything in here you wouldn't want a stranger to read?"
02
Talk to your school about which AI tools students use
Parents can ask a teacher at pickup or in a short email. School leaders can list every AI tool in use and share it with families. Try: "Which AI tools do students use in class, and what happens to what they type?"
03
Agree on one data rule together
Kids follow rules they helped write. Make one at home or as a class, and put it where everyone sees it. Try: "What's one thing we never type into AI?"
ACTIVITY
Become an AI detective
AGES 11–14 20 MIN YOU NEED: AN AI CHAT TOOL
Kids question an AI chat tool like detectives to find out what it's good at, where it slips up, and what it does with what they type. They practice testing answers and checking what the AI claims about privacy.
HOW TO DO IT
1
Test its strengths (5 min). Type: "Give me a tricky riddle, then explain step by step how you'd solve it." Can your kid follow every step? Would they have solved it a different way?
2
Catch a slip-up (10 min). Type: "Tell me three facts about [our town or school]." Pick one and ask: "How sure are you about that, and how could I check it?" Look for anything the AI gets wrong or admits it can't know.
3
Ask about privacy (5 min). Type: "What happens to what I type here, and how do I delete it?" Then open the tool's settings together and see if the answer matches. In the classroom: pairs try different tools and compare what each one said.
TALK ABOUT IT
Where did the AI sound sure but turn out wrong? Which of Microsoft's 10 promises would you want this tool to make?
POLL
Does your school share which AI tools students use in class?
Tap an answer to vote. We'll share the results next week.
READ MORE
Go deeper
Big Thinkers · How one school uses AI for practice and frees up the day for projects, plus a 20-minute video game kids design with AI.
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