Silent Algorithms in Schools? 5 Ways Educators Can Lead With AI Transparency

Author

Merissa Sadler-Holder
July 24, 2025

🚨 Ontario’s AI Hiring Law Isn’t Just About Jobs. It’s a Wake-Up Call for Education.

Starting January 1, 2026, Canada’s Working for Workers Act will require employers to disclose when AI is used in hiring decisions. No more ghost jobs. No more secret algorithms.

This is a big win for transparency — and a signal that education should pay attention.

Because whether we like it or not, silent algorithms are already shaping student outcomes. From discipline referrals to grading platforms, AI is creeping into the background of school life… and often without students, parents, or even teachers fully realizing it.

💡 Here’s the shift:
The next evolution in education may require transparency not just in what tools are used, but when, how, and by whom AI is shaping decisions.

✅ 5 Ways to Build Transparency about AI This School Year:

  1. Start with a Staff AI Disclosure Sheet
    Create a simple shared doc where teachers/admins list any AI-powered tools they use for grading, planning, communication, or student analysis, even if they’re just testing. Transparency starts within the team.

  2. Add an AI Use Note to Your Syllabus or Back-to-School Letter
    One sentence is enough: “We may use tools powered by artificial intelligence to support instruction, feedback, or communication this year. Let’s learn how these work together.”

  3. Normalize Wondering About the Process
    Help students develop healthy habits of reflection by asking questions together like: What role might technology have played here? How do tools support the work we do? It’s a way to spark digital literacy, curiosity, and critical thinking without placing judgement.

  4. Audit Your Tools for Invisible AI
    Many platforms (behavior tracking apps, writing tools, LMS features) quietly rely on AI. Make a list, check privacy policies, and ask vendors directly: Does this tool use AI? Then, decide if/how you disclose it.

  5. Make Space for Discussion, Not Just Policy
    Hold a 15-minute conversation during staff meetings or PLCs once a month around “AI Use We’re Seeing.” Teachers are the first to notice impacts, build a culture that makes space to surface them.

🔍 If Ontario is setting the tone, your district might be next.

Whether you’re a teacher, tech lead, or superintendent, now’s the time to model what ethical, transparent AI use can look like in education.

Let’s not wait to be regulated.
Let’s lead the way.


✍️ Written by Merissa Sadler-Holder, founder of Teaching with Machines
Award-winning AI educator. Two-time ASU+GSV Leading Woman in AI.

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