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Staying Current with AI: A Resource Guide for Jewish Day School Leaders


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(May–September 2025)



Introduction: Why Staying Current Matters


Artificial intelligence is advancing at a pace unlike any previous innovation cycle; new tools and policies emerge every few weeks. 


For Jewish day schools, which have both the autonomy and responsibility to set their own policies, professional

learning, and family engagement strategies, staying current on AI is essential…and still very challenging, especially during the time from end of school through summer and into the start of the school year when routines are disrupted, everything feels urgent, and you may not even know where to start.


This isn’t about chasing every headline; it’s about cultivating literacy and awareness so your school remains adaptive, mission-driven, and grounded in Jewish values such as truth (emet), human dignity (tzelem Elohim), responsibility (achrayut), and community (kehillah).




Key Updates


Here are the most relevant developments for school leaders that you may have missed from the jam-packed May through the excitement of kicking off a new year:


1. Policy & Regulation

  • Ohio’s AI Mandate (May 2025): Schools must integrate AI literacy into their curriculum. While not binding on private schools, this shapes parent expectations and state-wide norms.

  • Georgia’s Ethical AI Principles (June 2025): Released as a framework for ethical use in schools. Provides a model for values-based guidelines Jewish day schools can adapt.

  • Missouri’s AI Guidance (July 2025): Focuses on safeguarding student data and balancing innovation with oversight. Offers a reference point for schools creating their own policies.

  • US Department of Education (June 2025): Released funding guidance to support AI integration and digital equity. Day schools can reference this in conversations with funders and partners.


Implication: Even without district mandates, Jewish day schools operate in a broader educational ecosystem. Parents and faculty are aware of state and federal conversations, and proactive, values-based policy-setting builds credibility and trust.




2. Tools & Platforms

  • OpenAI GPT-5 (July 2025): Advanced reasoning and reduced hallucinations. Impacts faculty use for lesson planning, differentiation, and administrative tasks.

  • Google Gemini for Education (August 2025): Rolled out classroom features, integrated into Google Workspace. Relevant for schools already using Google tools.

  • NotebookLM Expansion (August 2025): Allows custom AI tutors trained on specific school documents. Can be piloted for curriculum or Jewish Studies support, but requires strong oversight.

  • Google Veo3 (September 2025): Video generation tool with classroom potential for project-based learning.

  • ElevenLabs AI Voice Assistant (June 2025): Rapid adoption in the nonprofit and education sectors for accessibility and communication.


Implication: Leaders should weigh both opportunity and risk. With small faculties, Jewish day schools can benefit from workload relief, but must ensure usage aligns with their values and maintains a human-centered approach to teaching.



3. Research & Reports

  • MIT Study (May 2025): Found AI-generated essays significantly outperformed students’ work, sparking renewed debate about assessment integrity.

  • EU Student Survey (May 2025): Students believe AI is essential for their future careers; schools lag behind in preparedness.

  • Common Sense Media Report (June 2025): Found risks in using AI assistants with children under 13, including inappropriate outputs and data privacy concerns.

  • Gallup Survey (July 2025): Teachers report saving 5+ hours/week using AI for admin and lesson prep tasks.

  • Meta-Analysis (September 2025): Found positive learning outcomes when AI is used as a scaffold, but negative outcomes when it replaces active learning.


Implication: Research underscores both opportunity (efficiency, scaffolding) and caution (academic integrity, developmental risks). Leaders need to frame AI use in ways that strengthen—not erode—learning and student growth.



4. Emerging Risks & Ethics

  • AI Hallucinations (May–August 2025): Studies show hallucinations remain common, especially in niche content areas (like Hebrew or Jewish Studies).

  • Deceptive Behaviors (July 2025): Research highlights AI’s ability to provide misleading answers with confidence.

  • Invisible Influencers (September 2025): New evidence that AI platforms embed subtle biases in educational content.


Implication: With strong community trust at stake, Jewish day schools must ensure transparent, values-based guidelines. Demonstrating ethical leadership in this area can be a differentiator for families.



Implications for Jewish Day Schools


  1. Policy Development: Schools must create their own AI policies and communicate them clearly. Reference state/federal frameworks while grounding guidelines in Jewish values.


  2. Instruction & Learning: AI can support differentiated learning, Hebrew and Judaics instruction, and project-based learning. But it must be used as a scaffold, not a replacement.


  3. Faculty Capacity: With small faculties, AI can meaningfully reduce workload. But professional learning is essential to avoid overdependence or misuse.


  4. Parent & Community Trust: Families expect day schools to balance innovation with tradition and values. Transparent communication about AI use builds confidence.


  5. Ethics & Equity: Jewish values call for responsibility and fairness. Leaders must address bias, protect data, and preserve the relational core of teaching.




Practical Applications & Integration


  • AI Literacy Training: Facilitate faculty sessions with live demos (e.g., asking AI for a map of Jerusalem and showing inaccuracies) to build awareness.


  • Policy Drafting: Develop school-wide AI guidelines framed in both best practice and Jewish values (truth, dignity, responsibility).


  • Workload Reduction: Pilot AI in lesson planning, admin, or differentiation, with safeguards and regular review.


  • Hebrew & Jewish Studies: Use cautiously for language support or scaffolding, while checking for accuracy and nuance.


  • Family Engagement: Share resources like Common Sense Media’s AI Toolkit and explain how your school is guiding responsible use.


  • Leadership Use: Employ AI for drafting communications, scenario planning, or summarizing meetings.




Next Steps for Leaders


  1. Stay Informed: Identify 1–2 reliable sources (e.g., TeachAI, Common Sense, trusted consultants) instead of chasing every update.


  2. Build Capacity: Invest in professional development tailored to your school’s needs and values.


  3. Pilot Responsibly: Try one AI tool in a controlled way, document the process, and share outcomes with faculty and families.


  4. Engage Stakeholders: Involve parents, board members, and students in conversations to model transparency.


  5. Plan for 2026: Anticipate more state-level mandates, national frameworks, and growing parent expectations.




Final Thought


Jewish day schools have a unique opportunity: to lead with both innovation and values. By staying informed, building faculty capacity, and grounding decisions in timeless Jewish principles, schools can prepare students for the future while honoring the integrity of Jewish education today.


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