FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LAGUNA BEACH UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
CONTACT: ANAKAREN UREÑO
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND ENGAGEMENT
949-497-7700 EXT. 5232

March 26, 2025

Laguna Beach Unified School District Introduces AI Trust You

New Chrome extension promotes responsible AI use in education

LAGUNA BEACH, Calif. – The Laguna Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) is introducing AI Trust You, a Google Chrome extension designed to bring clarity and accountability to AI usage in classrooms. In addition to launching the tool within LBUSD, the district has made it available to school systems across the nation.

As AI becomes more common in education, AI Trust You gives teachers and students a clear way to decide how—or if—AI should be used in classwork. Teachers can set expectations for AI use in assignments, and students can explain how they used it—what tools they used, what they used them for (like writing, research, or creating media), and how much of their work involved AI. 

The earliest questions about how students were using AI in LBUSD were explored through a research partnership with Stanford University’s Challenge Success program in spring 2022. A diverse group of middle and high school students took part in focus groups to talk about how they use AI in school, how it fits into their learning, and whether it has affected things like cheating or cutting corners on assignments.

“When AI tools like ChatGPT were first gaining widespread popularity, much of the conversation revolved around misuse,” said LBUSD Chief Technology Officer Michael Morrison. "As a former teacher, I get it—new tech can feel risky, especially when there aren’t clear guidelines. Some students told us they felt guilty using AI, even when they weren’t breaking any rules. Teachers felt like they were stuck trying to catch students doing something wrong, which created the conditions for a negative classroom culture. AI Trust You helps everyone understand what’s okay, what’s not, and how to use AI in ways that support learning,” he concluded. 

Building on these insights, LBUSD has taken a proactive approach to bringing AI into classrooms. A group of teachers, tech staff, and librarians is working together in a guided setting to try out AI tools and see how they might support learning without compromising academic honesty. The district has also updated its Acceptable Use Policy to address things like copyright, creating content responsibly, and using AI in a fair and ethical way. 

Twenty-nine districts have committed to piloting the extension of AI Trust You, with 50 more expressing interest in exploring its potential. To learn more about AI Trust You and the district’s approach to responsible AI use, visit TinyUrl.com/AITrustYou.

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