A consortium (the Senate, Sutherland Institute, USBE, and UAPCS) has come together to sponsor the “Shaping Utah’s AI Future” Essay Contest for Utah students in grades 10–12. One student from each of Utah’s 29 Senate districts will also be selected to participate in the Utah Student AI Policy Congress at the State Capitol on November 20–21.
The idea behind the project is straightforward: As policymakers wrestle with how artificial intelligence should be used in our schools, students ought to have a meaningful opportunity to tell us what they think.
Students are being asked to propose specific, actionable policies addressing questions such as:
Who should decide when and how AI is used in classrooms?
When should students be allowed — or expected — to use AI, and when should its use be prohibited or disclosed?
What protections should apply to student data and AI-generated content?
When, if ever, should AI influence decisions made about individual students?
How should schools balance access to AI with preparing students for college, careers and life after graduation?
Who should approve AI tools, and which decisions belong at the state, district, school or classroom level?
At the heart of the contest is a question we deal with regularly in the Legislature: Who decides? We want students to think seriously not only about what the rules should be, but also about who should make them and how much discretion should remain with schools and individual teachers.
Essays should be 1,000–1,500 words and are due October 1. The top three essays will receive $1,000, $500 and $250, respectively.
In addition, one student from each Senate district will be invited to the Capitol for the Utah Student AI Policy Congress. Delegates will participate in a legislative-style process modeled on the Utah Senate, debate AI policy proposals on the Senate floor, caucus with other students and ultimately vote on a Utah Student AI Policy Resolution. That resolution will then be presented to state policymakers as a statement of students’ perspectives on AI in Utah schools. Senators and Representatives may want to come to the Policy Congress as a mentor for the student representatives from their area.
The contest is open to Utah students in grades 10–12 in public schools, charter schools, private schools, microschools and homeschool programs.
Important dates
October 1: Essay submission deadline
October 15: Senate district delegates and cash-prize winners announced
November 20–21: Utah Student AI Policy Congress at the Utah State Capitol
Students can find the full contest rules, essay framework and submission information here.