Microsoft Establishes Enforceable AI Privacy Rules for Schools

Microsoft has agreed to a set of safety and privacy principles for AI in schools, following recent bans on student-facing AI in major school systems. In a landmark agreement with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT), Microsoft committed to ten principles that school districts can now enforce contractually. The terms include a pledge not to train AI models on student or educator data, limiting data collection, and providing transparent explanations of how tools work to families. Additionally, the agreement prohibits AI companions and mandates human review for "high-risk" decisions. This move follows one-year bans implemented by New York City and Los Angeles school districts to evaluate proper guardrails. While the AFT has historically been critical of tech in schools, it is now working with companies to navigate the AI era. AFT President Randi Weingarten described the terms as "iron-clad," noting that legally enforceable provisions are essential in the absence of federal action. The group also announced a $23 million AI training hub for educators funded by Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI.