Mt. Lebanon High School in Pennsylvania has earned a second endorsement from the Responsible AI in Learning (RAIL) program, making it one of the first public schools in the world to be recognized for using artificial intelligence to enhance student learning. The endorsement follows the school's first RAIL credential in AI literacy, safety and ethics last year. Both endorsements come through the Middle States Association, which runs the accreditation-style program for K-12 schools.
Principal Joel Thompson started preparing staff for AI's impact when ChatGPT launched in 2022. "We needed to start the conversation, as it was evident to me the impact would be significant," Thompson said. "Getting people to be willing to talk about these issues and solutions was easy. They saw challenges and opportunities, and wanted to respond."
A framework built by teachers
The school's approach centers on a simple principle: education should drive innovation, not the other way around. Staff built a framework that lets teachers choose instructional strategies and technologies based on what their students need. That has included standardizing how AI is used in instruction and creating a system where students know whether they can use AI for a given assignment.
Before implementing anything, the school spent a year researching effective learning models. That work included a special education teacher using AI tools to create more personalized learning experiences for students with disabilities.
"As we adapt, we're thinking about what students' needs are and what we value in instruction, all while meeting the opportunity for students to be digitally literate," Thompson said.
School leaders looking to build a similar approach can follow the AI Learning Path for School Principals, which covers the practical steps of introducing AI policy and practice in a school setting. Teachers working on classroom integration may find the AI Learning Path for Teachers more relevant to their daily work.
Why the endorsement matters
The RAIL program was created to help schools safely and ethically integrate AI. Earning endorsements in both safety and learning enhancement signals that Mt. Lebanon has moved beyond basic policy into measurable classroom practice. The school's AI leadership team includes Thompson, technology director Chris Stengel, and teachers Josh Bilak, Stephanie Camarda and Kurt Voss-Hoynes.
"The idea was to help school leaders learn to navigate the new world of AI and the impact it will have," Thompson said. "You want to embed a change like this deep in the culture so any changes you make are reflected in the values you hold."
Why this matters for educators
Mt. Lebanon's model offers a concrete template for schools that are still deciding how to handle AI. The key takeaway: start with a year of research, let teachers drive the decisions, and build a system where students always know when AI is allowed. That combination - clear rules plus teacher autonomy - is what earned the school recognition, and it's replicable at any school willing to put in the groundwork.
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