AI in Schools: What 1,000 Districts Reveal About Readiness and Risk

District leaders face pivotal decisions about how AI is introduced, governed and used in classrooms, choices with real implications for teaching, student well-being and community trust. Yet they often make those decisions without clear insight into how students actually interact with AI. This round table discussion examines new data on AI usage across more than 1,300 districts in 39 states and what it reveals about readiness, risk and responsibility. Participants will explore student usage trends, the gaps that emerge when districts rely on outright bans instead of structured governance, and how AI usage data can serve as an early warning system that surfaces wellness and safety signals that might otherwise go unnoticed. The conversation moves beyond the ban versus embrace debate toward clear guardrails that support both innovation and safety. You will leave with practical steps you can take now, from building transparent acceptable use policies to establishing monitoring frameworks that keep students safe without shutting down learning.