Our Platform

Our Priorities: What Working Educators Stands For

Four principles guiding our coverage, our advocacy, and our vision for AI in education.

Working Educators started as a caucus of Philadelphia teachers with a clear platform: racial justice in schools, fair testing, and teacher leadership. As we've expanded our mission to cover AI in education, we've developed a new platform — grounded in those same values, applied to the challenges teachers face today.

These are the principles we stand for.

1
Teacher Voice in AI Policy

AI policies should be developed with teacher input, not imposed from above. Educators understand classroom realities that policymakers and vendors don't.

Teachers should have seats at the table when districts adopt AI tools
Classroom-level decisions should remain with educators, not algorithms
AI should not be used to evaluate teacher performance
2
Fair Detection, Fair Process

AI detection tools have documented biases and limitations. Students deserve protection from false accusations and unfair discipline.

No student should face discipline based solely on AI detection scores
Detection tools should be tested for bias against ESL students and students of color
Students should have clear appeals processes for AI-related academic integrity findings
3
Training and Support, Not Just Tools

Teachers need time and professional development to navigate AI effectively. Software purchases without training are budget lines, not solutions.

AI literacy training should be part of ongoing professional development
Teachers need dedicated time to redesign assignments for the AI era
New AI mandates should come with funding, not just expectations
4
Students First, Always

AI policy should serve student learning and development. The goal isn't to catch cheaters — it's to prepare young people for a world where AI exists.

AI literacy should be part of K-12 curriculum — students need to understand these tools
Student data used by AI tools should be protected by strong privacy standards
Young people's voices should be part of AI policy discussions — they're the ones most affected

Why These Priorities Matter

AI in education is moving fast. Vendors are selling solutions. Administrators are writing policies. Legislators are proposing laws. In this rush, teacher expertise and student well-being can get lost.

Working Educators exists to center what matters: grounded, practical, justice-oriented guidance for educators navigating this transformation. Our priorities aren't abstract principles — they're based on what we've seen work and fail in real schools.

We're not anti-AI. We're pro-teacher. We're pro-student. And we're committed to making sure the educators doing this work every day have a voice in shaping how AI enters our schools.

Related Reading

Our Original Platform

These issues remain central to our work as educators: