In a bold move to modernize education, Lexington-Richland School District 5 in South Carolina is exploring the possibility of introducing an AI assistant to support teachers by the 2025-26 academic year, as outlined in government technology. The AI tool, designed to assist with tasks like lesson planning, test creation, and personalized student feedback, could transform how educators manage their workloads and cater to individual student needs.
The district, which serves the Chapin-Irmo area, is currently evaluating the potential of AI to streamline classroom operations. Superintendent Akil Ross emphasized the transformative potential of this technology, stating, “I’ve always believed that the faculty needs a faculty.” While providing over 1,400 teachers with human instructional assistants may be impractical, Ross believes an AI assistant could offer similar benefits.
The district, which serves the Chapin-Irmo area, is currently evaluating the potential of AI to streamline classroom operations. Superintendent Akil Ross emphasized the transformative potential of this technology, stating, “I’ve always believed that the faculty needs a faculty.” While providing over 1,400 teachers with human instructional assistants may be impractical, Ross believes an AI assistant could offer similar benefits.
How AI Could Help Teachers
The proposed AI assistant would be capable of:
“Districts are now using generative AI to do this,” Ross told the school board. “We may not be able to give every faculty member a faculty member, but we can give them a powerful tool.” The district already uses a free version of Magic School, an AI-powered educational platform. However, the free version has limitations, such as the inability to save or store created materials and restricted access to advanced features. Ross noted that upgrading to the paid version could unlock the platform’s full potential.
To better understand how Magic School could be integrated into their classrooms, a team from Lexington-Richland 5 will visit Horry County, which has been piloting the program this year. The visit aims to provide insights into the platform’s practical applications and effectiveness.
The school board is currently weighing the financial implications of adopting the AI assistant. The initial estimated cost is $90,000 annually, but Ross acknowledged that this figure could change as the district explores additional features and plug-ins. “That’s an initial quote. We’d like to be able to go back and see if there are any additional plug-ins after visiting Horry,” he said.
- Developing tests aligned with state standards.
- Generating individualized worksheets and lesson plans.
- Providing tailored feedback to students based on their performance.
- Translating texts into multiple languages and adapting them to various reading levels.
“Districts are now using generative AI to do this,” Ross told the school board. “We may not be able to give every faculty member a faculty member, but we can give them a powerful tool.” The district already uses a free version of Magic School, an AI-powered educational platform. However, the free version has limitations, such as the inability to save or store created materials and restricted access to advanced features. Ross noted that upgrading to the paid version could unlock the platform’s full potential.
To better understand how Magic School could be integrated into their classrooms, a team from Lexington-Richland 5 will visit Horry County, which has been piloting the program this year. The visit aims to provide insights into the platform’s practical applications and effectiveness.
The school board is currently weighing the financial implications of adopting the AI assistant. The initial estimated cost is $90,000 annually, but Ross acknowledged that this figure could change as the district explores additional features and plug-ins. “That’s an initial quote. We’d like to be able to go back and see if there are any additional plug-ins after visiting Horry,” he said.
Addressing Diverse Student Needs
One of the key challenges the district hopes to address with AI is the wide range of student abilities in a single classroom. For example, a recent study of an eighth-grade English and language arts class revealed reading levels spanning from second to ninth grade among 21 students. “This becomes very challenging for a teacher,” Ross explained. Magic School’s ability to tailor lesson plans to individual student needs could alleviate this burden, ensuring that every student receives appropriate support.
District technology director Jenny Garris assured that student privacy would be a top priority if the AI tool is adopted. “They do not collect any personally identifiable information,” she said. “This includes names, addresses, student IDs, any details that could identify a student.” Even if such information is accidentally entered, Garris added that the system would immediately remove and delete it to maintain privacy.
The school board must decide on funding for the AI assistant by the end of June 2025, as part of the 2025-26 budget. If approved, this initiative could mark a significant step forward in leveraging technology to enhance education and support teachers in Lexington-Richland 5. As Superintendent Ross aptly put it, “We may not be able to give every faculty member a faculty member, but we can give them a powerful tool.”
District technology director Jenny Garris assured that student privacy would be a top priority if the AI tool is adopted. “They do not collect any personally identifiable information,” she said. “This includes names, addresses, student IDs, any details that could identify a student.” Even if such information is accidentally entered, Garris added that the system would immediately remove and delete it to maintain privacy.
The school board must decide on funding for the AI assistant by the end of June 2025, as part of the 2025-26 budget. If approved, this initiative could mark a significant step forward in leveraging technology to enhance education and support teachers in Lexington-Richland 5. As Superintendent Ross aptly put it, “We may not be able to give every faculty member a faculty member, but we can give them a powerful tool.”