School is back in session in Douglas County. So is the school district’s efforts to expand the use of artificial intelligence in its classrooms.

For roughly three years, the Douglas County School District — comprising 61,000 students among 92 schools in the large county south of Denver — has tested the use of AI in its classrooms.

“We’ve been using AI in a number of ways,” Superintendent Erin Kane told The Denver Gazette in an interview introducing the new school year, which began for students Wednesday.

“We believe we’ll be building our own AI platform, which will be amazing. But right now, we’ve been leaning in on a whole bunch of different AI platforms throughout our schools,” Kane said.

With the school district’s 7,600 staff members, among which are 3,600 teachers, it’s Douglas County’s largest employer.

This school year also marks a transition period for DCSD, following the approval of a $490 million bond last year and the decision to close three Highlands Ranch elementary schools.

AI in the classroom?

When asked what the DCSD community should look forward to this school year, Kane addressed “cornerstone commitments” to the school district’s long-term strategic plan. The focus is also going to be on implementing “strategic technology integration.”

That means increased use of AI technology in the classroom, she said.

“We will be fully leaning in on advancing technology like AI, because our kids are going to walk into a world where they need to be fully prepared to leverage everything that’s available to them,” Kane said.

Kane noted DCSD is exploring its own AI platform. The school district uses a variety of different AI platforms that are treated as a “toolkit,” she said.

AI takes “personalized learning to a whole new level,” Kane said, “where we can really reach each and every child based on their own interests and based on their specific needs.”

The DCSD superintendent outlined specific uses of AI. For one, Kane said, AI saves time for teachers presenting certain topics, such as language, which AI can quickly translate. Another example of AI in the classroom is to expose students early enough to understand its use in the real world, according to Kane.

“We don’t want kids who can adapt,” Kane said. “We want kids who want to lead the change.”

The superintendent called AI “ambient technology,” one that is “embedded in everything.”

AI in schools can also be used for in-house data analysis and cybersecurity, according to Kane.

One AI program DCSD utilizes is Google NotebookLM, which has the ability to summarize and create content with what it’s given. On the other hand, the school district is also mitigating the use of AI to avoid students, or even teachers, taking shortcuts on assignments like term papers.

“Using AI responsibly also means not blindly believing whatever AI spits out,” Kane said. “We have to teach our kids those critical analysis skills so they can look at whatever AI might spit out and go, ‘that is not right’.”

“Cheating with AI is not nearly as easy to do when you’re really talking about that productive struggle and a deeper level of thinking,” Kane added.

As of 2025, the district’s graduation rate reached 92.2% — the highest the school district has experienced in 15 years, according to school district officials.

DCSD prepares for 3 Highlands Ranch elementary closures

Six Highlands Ranch elementary schools are set to consolidate into three combined schools for the 2026-27 school year:

• Saddle Ranch Elementary to consolidate into Eldorado Elementary
• Heritage Elementary to consolidate into Summit View Elementary
• Acres Green Elementary to consolidate into Fox Creek Elementary

School consolidations are an effort to balance out growth and decline within the Highlands Ranch Metro District.

Kane, as the final school year for three of DCSD schools begin, shared with The Denver Gazette a message to the Highlands Community:

“I think this is a great time to start to get to know the other people in your community … This is a great year to get the second graders together, because next year they’ll be third graders in the same building… Get the PTOs together, get the volunteers together and start to build an amazing community that will be built off of two existing, amazing communities, and that will only make our community stronger.”