Responsible AI Use and Data Management to Improve Education Systems

October 14, 2025

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to evolve rapidly, its capacity to transform education systems—from classroom teaching and learning to data integration and management—becomes increasingly clear. Education leaders have the responsibility of guiding schools and districts through this technological shift, ensuring that every student benefits from these advancements and has equal access.

WestEd is leading efforts to integrate and optimize emerging technologies across education systems. This Spotlight highlights valuable insights and resources from WestEd experts that are designed to support informed decision-making and the effective, fair implementation of AI and integrated data systems statewide.

Using a Framework to Guide Decision-Making

Welcoming AI into schools requires striking a careful balance between harnessing the transformative benefits of these technologies and proactively mitigating their risks.

Sarah Quesen, WestEd’s Director of Assessment Research and Innovation, shares that one promising strategy is regularly auditing AI tools to ensure they are used responsibly.

Starting with a single AI tool implemented within a school or a district, education leaders can rigorously evaluate its impact based on the following core principles:

• transparency
• privacy and security
• fairness
• human oversight
• student agency

Quesen emphasizes that forming a diverse committee—including teachers, students, and parents—to review AI policies ensures that systems truly support student learning and foster creativity while minimizing unintended negative consequences.

Read more about centering students while navigating AI-enhanced learning.

Trustworthy and Secure AI Systems: Guidance for Public Agencies

Education leaders and public agency leaders work to ensure that adoption of AI is both innovative and secure—protecting student data and preserving public trust. The Data Integration Support Center (DISC) at WestEd has extensive expertise in implementing secure AI environments within real-world organizational constraints.

A new comprehensive resource collection provides public agencies with the evidence-based support they need to navigate the complexities of integrating secure AI. These resources offer guidance on

• key considerations for infrastructure,
• technical approaches,
• policy frameworks, and
• decision-making tools.

By following these best practices, systems can ensure that AI solutions support all individuals while protecting sensitive information and maintaining public trust.

View the resource collection.

Developing a Technology Plan That Incorporates AI Policy

In this webinar, designed specifically for SEA leaders, DISC’s Baron Rodriguez offers insights about data in the context of AI. Rodriguez discusses

• data quality and governance,
• security and privacy concerns,
• maturity levels of organizations, and
• use cases and strategic planning.

View the webinar to learn more.

How WestEd Helps 

Explore these services, designed to enhance the capacity of all educators to leverage technology effectively and improve student outcomes. 

• AI Readiness and Integration: We support agencies through every stage of their AI journey, ensuring readiness and responsible and effective implementation.
• Privacy and Security: We provide clear guidance, hands-on technical implementation, and ongoing assistance to help agencies meet compliance requirements, strengthen security, and maintain mission effectiveness.
• Data Structures, Management, and Visualizations: Our data services provide capacity and expertise to build modern, secure data infrastructure from collection through reporting.
• Architecture, Development, and Hosting: We provide a range of tailored technology solutions—from custom applications and cloud infrastructure to professional web experiences—designed around your specific workflows, constraints, and long-term goals.