Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools gathered community opinions to shape AI’s role in education, revealing key concerns and a strong demand for training.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 10,000 voices across the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) community — including students, families, and staff — have shared their thoughts on the role of artificial intelligence in education. The feedback, gathered through surveys, focus groups, and interviews, is helping shape the district’s approach to AI as new technologies increasingly enter classrooms.
Strong interest, mixed opinions
The survey revealed a high level of familiarity with AI:
But while interest in AI is growing, opinions within CMS vary. School-level staff expressed more skepticism, while district-level leaders were generally more optimistic about AI’s potential in education.
Key concerns
Community members highlighted three major areas of concern:
Academic integrity and the potential for AI-assisted cheating
Data privacy, particularly how student information is used
Impact on interpersonal skills, as students rely more on technology
What the community wants
Feedback revealed a desire for AI to enhance, not replace, teaching and learning. Many emphasized the need to teach students not just how to use AI, but also how it works, when it should be trusted, and its ethical and career implications.
There was also strong support for clear policies and more teacher input before new AI tools are introduced.
Support for operational uses
Across stakeholder groups, there was broad support for using AI to:
Automate administrative tasks
Improve communication with families
Personalize student support
Assist with homework and scheduling
Training is key
Staff are eager to be prepared. 66% of employees surveyed said they want AI-related training, with many preferring in-person workshops and virtual sessions to build skills and confidence.
What’s next for CMS and AI?
The district has outlined a couple of upcoming steps:
As CMS moves forward, the message from the community is clear: AI has potential, but its integration must be thoughtful, transparent, and centered around students and educators.
Contact Richard DeVayne at [email protected] and follow him on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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