25 signatures reached
To: Delaware Department of Education
Public Voice Before AI
We, the undersigned, believe that strong public schools are essential to a healthy democracy. We recognize that critical thinking, creative problem solving and human agency are necessary to maintain that democracy. As artificial intelligence (AI) becomes increasingly integrated in society, schools have a responsibility to prepare students to understand, analyze, interrogate and evaluate AI so they can become engaged citizens who make decisions and take action in their lives and their communities.
AI literacy is an important goal. However, policies related to the use of AI in public education should be developed only after public engagement with those most impacted. If, as Secretary Marten stated, the Delaware Department of Education seeks to “support the safe, responsible, ethical, equitable, and effective use of generative artificial intelligence in education” and “to ensure that innovation is worthy of the trust that students, families, and educators place in our schools” then meaningful public participation must be central to the work. Public trust cannot be assumed; it must be earned.
Because decisions about AI will shape teaching, learning and the future of public education in Delaware, those decisions should be guided by broad, transparent, and ongoing public participation.
We call on DDOE to
Because decisions about AI will shape teaching, learning and the future of public education in Delaware, those decisions should be guided by broad, transparent, and ongoing public participation.
We call on DDOE to
- Publish a summary of responses from students, educators and families that informed the development of Delaware’s 2025-2028 strategic plan.
- Survey educators specifically about what factors have increased their workload.
- Survey parents and students about what educational outcomes they value the most.
- Conduct listening tours in all three counties.
- Remove barriers to participation by providing multi-lingual materials, childcare, transportation assistance, virtual participation options, and accessible meeting locations.
- Establish an advisory council composed primarily of parents, students, community members and educators.
- Convene focus groups for parents, students, community members and educators to allow for deeper discussions.
- Report publicly and regularly on public engagement efforts and findings.
In doing so, Delaware can strengthen its approach to artificial intelligence as well as its commitment to democratic governance in public education.
Why is this important?
Public schools are a cornerstone of our democracy. When decisions are made by politicians and technocrats rather than by communities, education ceases to serve the public good and erodes public trust. Recent communication from the Delaware Department of Education on social media indicates that it is heading down the same road as in the past, trying to manage and fix education without engaging in meaningful, substantive conversations with educators, students, parents and community members. We cannot afford to waste more time on efficiency, management and deficit ideology. That top-down management-driven approach did not produce the transformation that Delaware was promised during the Race to the Top Initiative of the past sixteen years, and it will not work now. Instead, we need the DDOE to make a strong commitment to democratic processes, shared decision-making and relationship building.
Please read and sign this petition from Public School Strong Delaware.
Please read and sign this petition from Public School Strong Delaware.
How it will be delivered
email, social media