Kalamazoo Public Schools Brings AI Into Classroom With Privacy-Focused Tool

*KALAMAZOO, Mich.* — Kalamazoo Public Schools has implemented an artificial intelligence program called Magic School AI after a rigorous vetting process that prioritized student data protection and privacy.

The district is also hosting seminars for parents on navigating the risks of AI in the digital world, following concerns that students are using chatbots for emotional support and answering personal questions.

"It's been interesting to watch, because there was great resistance and then finally acceptance," Alex Miller, Kalamazoo Public Schools Coordinator of Instructional Technology, said.

Miller oversees AI literacy training for teachers and students, helping them understand how to use AI tools responsibly in the classroom.

What Magic School AI Does

After months of evaluation, KPS selected Magic School AI because it protects student information and allows teachers to control how students interact with AI tools.

"So what's cool about this particular tool, Magic School, is that teachers can launch a room and assign students particular tools, like a study bot, or a quiz me, or a text rewriter, or chat with a character," Miller said.

In second grade classrooms, students are using chatbots to:

  • Talk to book characters from their reading
  • Ask historical figures questions during research projects
  • Engage in personalized learning experiences

"I've devoted my life to the struggle for equality and justice for all people, regardless of the color of their skin," the AI chatbot responded when Miller asked it to speak as a historical figure.

Miller showed an example of how second graders engage with chatbots to bring stories to life through conversation with historical characters.

The Dark Side: Kids Using AI at Home

While the school provides structured AI learning, parents report their children using chatbots at home where supervision is limited.

Mustafa Nazari attended the KPS "Parenting in the Digital World" seminar after his children were asked personal questions by an AI chatbot at home.

"AI was asking a lot of different kinds of questions about her name, her age, all these things," Nazari said.

Nazari expressed satisfaction that KPS is addressing these issues proactively.

What the Data Shows

According to a 2026 Pew Research Center poll:

  • 55% of U.S. teens said they've used chatbots for help with schoolwork
  • 12% say they've gotten emotional support from chatbots
  • 13% of young people now use AI chatbots for mental health advice (JAMA report)
  • 44% said they'd rather talk with a chatbot than family or friends

"What do you think about that?" News Channel 3 asked Nazari.

"That's true, because AI is very soft and AI is very supportive, not only for the kids, even I heard about the adults," Nazari said.

Why Schools Need Oversight

Dr. Sue Varma, a Board-Certified Psychiatrist, explained that AI chatbots have significant limitations.

"It is overall very generic. It does not understand the context of your life, your lived experience, your unique situation and background," Varma said.

"You can tell so much about a person face to face," Varma said.

Mental health experts warn that AI chatbots can miss emotional cues, reinforce harmful beliefs, or fail to safeguard users in crisis.

Red Flags for Parents

Miller outlined warning signs that indicate a child may be developing an unhealthy relationship with AI:

  • Pulling away from the outside world
  • Overreliance on the tool for decision making or homework
  • Constant use that could indicate addiction

"Does it concern you that kids are turning to AI for therapy?" Harthorn asked.

"Yeah, I think that oversight is essential, especially when it comes to mental health. You hear terrible stories of students getting bad advice and making really bad decisions. It's our goal to prevent that," Miller said.

Privacy Protections

Magic School AI's privacy policy states the company:

  • Does not use student or teacher data to train AI
  • Stores student interactions securely for teacher visibility and classroom oversight
  • Only allows authorized educators and administrators access to student information
  • Provides customizable Data Privacy Agreements for local policies
  • Avoids practices likely to cause material harm to children

The platform is designed to help schools innovate confidently while maintaining responsibility and protecting student information.

Moving Forward

The seminar series "Parenting in the Digital World" continues to help families navigate AI risks. Miller emphasizes that teaching students critical thinking skills about AI engagement is essential.

The goal is to prevent students from receiving harmful advice and making poor decisions based on AI recommendations.