Rachel Pauley Get the kit

A free resource for K–12 leaders

The policy category
your district
doesn't have yet.

70% of teens use AI companion chatbots. About 30% access them on school-issued devices. Almost no district AUP names them. This 10-page kit closes the gap in 30 days.

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Who it's for

Built for the people who'd be in the room when something goes wrong.

→Directors of Technology and CIOs/CTOs
→Superintendents and assistant superintendents
→Directors of Student Services and Counseling
→Principals and assistant principals
→Communications and family engagement leads
→Board members who want to ask better questions

If you've ever sat in a cabinet meeting and wondered, "Is our policy actually keeping up with what students are doing?" — this is for you.

What's inside

10 sections. Every one copy-paste ready.

v1.0 — May 2026

Policy

  • AUP addendum (short + extended versions)
  • Vendor & procurement question set
  • Adaptation checklist for legal review

Operations

  • Filter and network audit checklist with a starter block list
  • Incident response flow (24-hour, 5-day, 30-day)
  • Staff briefing slide outline

People

  • Counselor screening prompts and risk-tier response table
  • Parent advisory (short + long versions)
  • Board of Education talking points with anticipated Q&A

Why this. Why now.

The largest gap between what students are doing and what districts have written down.

Most K–12 AI conversations in 2026 are about ChatGPT for Teachers, state policy mandates, and academic integrity. Those matter.

But the policy gap most districts haven't closed isn't any of those. It's AI companion chatbots — relational, persona-driven AI built for emotional engagement, not homework help.

The research is clear:

  • More than 70% of teens have used AI companions (Common Sense Media)
  • Around 30% access them on school-issued devices
  • Brookings, EDSAFE, and Common Sense Media all issued 2026 warnings tied to documented student self-harm cases
  • Most district AUPs treat "AI" as a single category — no separate language for companion use

This kit gives you the language, checklists, scripts, and talking points to close the gap before students return in the fall.

About the author

Rachel Pauley

K–12 Director of Technology. Former teacher, principal, and Technology Integration Specialist.

I built this kit because every cabinet I've sat in this spring is asking the same questions — and most districts are inventing the answers from scratch. If this kit saves your team a week, it's done its job.

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FAQ

Common questions.

Is this really free?

Yes. The kit is free for personal and district internal use. Just don't resell it.

Can I share it with my district team?

Please do. Email it to your cabinet. Bring it to your next leadership meeting. Adapt it to your district's voice.

What state laws does this cover?

The kit is written to be state-agnostic. The Adaptation Checklist at the end walks you through what to review with your legal counsel for your specific state — including alignment with Ohio's July 1, 2026 deadline and similar mandates.

Will this work for a small district?

Yes. Most of the language was designed for districts without a dedicated CIO or in-house counsel. If you only have time to use one section, start with the AUP addendum.

What if my district already has an AI policy?

This kit specifically addresses the companion AI gap that most existing AI policies don't cover. Even strong AI policies usually treat AI as one category. Read Section 1 first — you'll see the gap quickly.

Are you available to help my district directly?

I do occasional speaking and workshops with K–12 leadership teams and state associations. Reply to any email I send and let's talk.

How often will you email me?

Roughly weekly. Always K–12 leadership focused. Always something you can use this week.

Don't be the district that learns this lesson the hard way.

Send me the kit

Also available

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