The micropolitical landscape of publicly discoverable policies for generative AI in large US school districts

While the use of generative AI (genAI) in K12 schools is increasing, it is poorly understood from a policy perspective. There are significant tensions in technology integration in education between public interests for social good and pressure from educational technology companies to view schools as markets. This study examined genAI policy efforts in the 50 largest US school districts by student enrolment in fall 2023 and spring 2024. A content analysis of documents from districts, states and media sources revealed micropolitical, rather than top-down, activities where districts were attempting policy making about genAI in varied ways and at varied paces. Educational technology vendors seemed to be opening space for substantial influence in policy decisions simultaneously. Understandings about these micropolitical activities of policy making have the potential to support shared decision-making and co-responsibility as important opportunities for disrupting current dynamics of influence on educational policy making in US schools.