Randy Bumpers
Civic Leader, Education Reform Now Advocacy D.C.
State Board of Education Public Meeting
Good evening, Members of the DC State Board of Education,
My name is Randy Bumpers, a PhD student at Howard University studying Higher Education Leadership and Policy, and a collaborator with the Department of Curriculum and Instruction colleagues on research around AI literacy for K-12 educators. I am here before you today in my capacity as a civic leader with Education Reform Now Advocacy DC (ERNA DC), and I am advocating for just and equitable educational opportunities and wish to discuss the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into our schools.
My journey and experience with AI in education began as I sought a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and later a master’s in Instructional Design aspiring to make a difference in STEM education. This path led me to launch the (GAP) Project, demonstrating the benefits of technology access and integration in K-12 education. Through my work partnering with teachers on designing engaging learning environments, I witnessed how technology empowers teachers and gives them the capacity to tailor learning experiences for all students. Through my research, I have witnessed how Al can serve both as a personal math tutor for students and assistant for teachers. It also has the potential to enhance teaching and learning outcomes across the district, especially since 78% of DC students are not proficient in math.[1] As a professional, I have also seen how AI has become an increasingly important tool in organizations. It has helped me personally advance my career and become more productive in my field.
AI’s potential is hindered by a digital divide, notably in urban areas like DC with substantial Black and Brown student populations. This divide can partially be explained by skepticism from educators shaped by historical disenfranchisement with technology and the underrepresentation of educators of color with technology training or backgrounds. Closing this divide involves filling a critical need for inclusive AI engagement in educational settings. Issues within AI like bias and stereotypical representation in AI-generating images underscore the urgency for inclusive Ai discussions. Humans as the creators of these technologies, often inadvertently or intentionally place our own biases in the algorithms we create. The way to combat this is to encourage students from underrepresented groups to engage in using, critiquing, and developing these technologies. We often speak of AI as if it’s impeding but the fact is AI is already here to stay. While AI has been evolving since the 50s, recent open source tools like ChatGPT, and Gemini , have both alarmed and excited people about AI’s growing impact. I caution from hyper-focusing on one tool like Chat GPT and understand that hundreds of AI-assisted tools exist on the market both open and closed source.
Tools like Latimer.ai. that were trained using Black cultural data, offers interesting opportunities for educators. I encourage you to explore this and others.
To address these challenges, especially in a predominately black and brown urban city such as D.C., and ensure we are at the forefront of shaping AI integration, it is crucial that you all engage with current research, trends, and discussions on AI ethics and education in your effort to integrate AI into education in the District. I recommend the following resources and conferences that are pivotal in advancing our understanding and involvement in AI:
- White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Blueprint of an AI Bill of Rights: https://www.whitehouse.gov/ostp/ai-bill-of-rights/ – This document outlines key rights related to AI technologies and serves as a guide for responsible AI development and use.
- DOE Office of Educational Technology’s AI Report: https://www2.ed.gov/documents/ai-report/ai-report.pdf – Provides insights into the current applications of AI in education and potential strategies for effective integration.
- White House Memo: Advancing Governance, Innovation, and Risk Management for Agency Use of Artificial Intelligence: https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/M-24-10-Advancing-Governance-Innovation-and-Risk-Management-for-Agency-Use-of-Artificial-Intelligence.pdf – Discusses frameworks for managing AI’s risks and innovations within government agencies and could offer guidance for non governmental organizations such as schools.
- Conferences such as Black is Tech, AfroTech, AI Expo for Global Competitiveness here in DC & the “AI for all Conference” at Tennessee State University (where I will be presenting similar recommendations later this year) provide platforms where thought leaders and innovators from can come together to discuss and shape the future of technologies like AI.
- Lastly, I offer my support and expertise as a resource on this subject matter as it is very important to me.
- For the sake of time, I encourage you all to check out the list of additional resources submitted with this testimonial (below).
Finally, as we prepare our students in DC for an increasingly digital world, it is crucial that we lead in AI policy discussions and implementation. By investing in our students, we are investing in our future. We can fight to ensure that AI access is inclusive and that the tools we employ truly represent our diverse community and society as a whole. Thank you for your attention to this important topic.
- https://www.educationtechnologyinsights.com/pathway2careers
- https://www.educationtechnologyinsights.com/
- https://stem.educationtechnologyinsights.com/cxoinsights/balancing-technology-and-learning-in-academia-nid-2726.html
- https://e-learning.educationtechnologyinsights.com/cxoinsights/transforming-education-through-elearning-and-gen-ai-nid-2742.html
- https://openai.com/blog/teaching-with-ai
[1] School year 2022-23 PARCC Assessment Results Source: https://osse.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/osse/page_content/attachments/Assessment%202023%20Deck_.08.24_0.pdf