FCPS board members scrutinize Google Gemini rollout on student devices

Several Frederick County Board of Education members are questioning whether Google Gemini should remain available on student Chromebooks before the school system adopts a formal artificial intelligence policy.

FCPS began allowing middle and high school students to use Google Gemini this school year with teacher permission. Other generative AI platforms remain blocked on school devices.

The district’s own current AI information page confirms that FCPS is piloting Google Gemini for middle and high school students within its secure digital environment while its formal policy moves through the Board of Education process.

Board member Jaime Brennan said she believes Gemini should either be disabled or more tightly controlled until the board establishes its policy.

She raised concerns about inappropriate images, bullying, mental-health risks and the lack of advance notice to parents before the platform was enabled.

Board member Colt Black also strongly criticized the rollout, arguing that expanding AI access creates additional opportunities for cheating.

The debate comes as the school board works on Policy 124, Artificial Intelligence. FCPS confirms the policy received its first reading on Sept. 9 and is expected to return for further board consideration.

School Board President Dean Rose initially said he believed Gemini should be turned off on school devices, but later said he did not want to make a snap judgment without additional input from staff and the community.

Rose said he changed his position after receiving more information about existing guardrails, including FCPS access to student prompts because Gemini operates inside monitored FCPS Google accounts.

Board member Karen Yoho said the benefits do not currently outweigh the risks and expressed concern that she learned about student Gemini access only after educators raised the issue publicly.

Board member Janie Inglis Monier has also asked FCPS to consider language allowing the district to disable or disconnect AI tools when appropriate.

Teachers have raised similar concerns.

Urbana High School social studies teacher Aubrey Lynch said Gemini is integrated into applications such as Google Docs and Slides and argued that teachers need meaningful control over whether students can use it during assignments.

FCPS says Gemini is intended primarily for AI literacy and can only be used by middle and high school students under conditions established by their teachers.

The district also uses an “Assume No AI” approach, meaning students are expected not to use AI on an assignment unless a teacher explicitly permits it.

FCPS says Gemini is the only generative AI system it evaluated that met its current safety and privacy standards, and access is limited to monitored FCPS Google accounts.

The policy discussion is happening under a new statewide framework.

Maryland’s Artificial Intelligence Ready Schools Act was approved by the governor as Chapter 634 and took effect June 1, 2026. The law directs the Maryland State Department of Education to provide AI guidance and requires local school systems to develop their own frameworks for responsible AI use.

The source material says FCPS faces an Oct. 22 deadline to implement its local AI policy.

For now, Gemini remains part of the FCPS pilot while board members debate what limits and controls should appear in the final policy.