KATY, TX [July 20, 2026] – As technology continues to reshape education and the future workforce, Katy ISD is taking a thoughtful, balanced approach to preparing students for success. At its July Board Work Study meeting, District leaders unveiled a comprehensive vision for classroom technology that emphasizes purposeful instruction, age-appropriate digital learning and the responsible integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance teaching while keeping educators at the center of every student’s learning experience.
Katy ISD outlined its plan to implement its Responsible AI Framework while keeping its teachers and hands-on learning at the center of instruction.
The presentation highlighted how the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) guide technology instruction across all grade levels, ensuring students build digital literacy and technology skills through carefully paced progression. Highlighting the District’s balanced approach to technology, administrators explained how digital learning experiences are intentionally aligned to classroom TEKS guided instruction and are introduced gradually as students develop age-appropriate digital literacy skills.
At the kindergarten level, students spend about 35 minutes per week building foundational technology skills through the district’s core curriculum and lessons and activities that directly address the state’s TEKS for technology application. In first and second grade, that increases to about one hour per week. That length of time gradually increases in measured steps as students progress through fifth grade, where they spend about 85 minutes per week strengthening keyboarding skills, organizing digital files and learning to choose the right digital tools for their work. At each level technology is intentionally aligned with classroom instruction and designed to support, not replace, high-quality teaching. Beyond the TEKS instructional benchmarks, teachers have the flexibility to integrate digital tools throughout the school day to enrich instruction, support learning and meet the needs of their students.
The presentation also introduced Katy ISD’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Framework, a comprehensive guide for the responsible integration of AI across District classrooms. Designed to support innovation while maintaining high standards for teaching and learning, the framework establishes clear expectations for the ethical, safe and purposeful use of AI. It reinforces that AI is a tool to enhance instruction, not replace the expertise, relationships and thoughtful decision-making that educators bring to the classroom every day. Developed by the District’s Teaching and Learning team, the AI Framework is designed as a living resource that is expected to continue to evolve through ongoing feedback from teachers, principals, students and families.
“Artificial intelligence is transforming the world our students will inherit, and it is our responsibility to prepare them to use these tools thoughtfully and with clear purpose,” said Dr. Sanée Bell, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. “The framework ensures AI strengthens teaching and learning while preserving the critical thinking, creativity and meaningful relationships that only educators can provide.”
Before AI becomes commonplace in classrooms, Katy ISD’s framework addresses many questions families have about AI in schools by making it clear that AI is a tool, not a teacher. Katy ISD educators remain responsible for designing lessons, evaluating student learning, building relationships and making instructional decisions.
“Our goal is not simply to introduce new technology,” Bell added. “It’s to ensure our students learn how to think critically about AI, use it responsibly and understand when human creativity, collaboration and expertise matter most.”
More information about the Technology TEKS and Katy ISD’s Artificial Intelligence Framework is available on the District’s Technology TEKS and AI Framework webpages. Video of the July 20 Board meeting presentation will be available on the District’s Board Livestream webpage under Item 9.2 here.
