From Confusion to Confidence: Lessons Families Gained from the DISCOVERING AI Back-to-School Discussion

On September 24, families across the country joined the first DISCOVERING AI National Back-to-School Game Plan Discussion. What they discovered was not just information about Artificial Intelligence, it was a roadmap for action to prepare their family for the Age of AI.

Parents came with uncertainty, confusion, and questions about how to guide their children through a rapidly changing digital world. They left with clarity, practical insights from leading experts, and a simple tool, the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN™, that can be completed in just 10–15 minutes at home.

Here are the lessons families gained from the voices that shaped the night.

Pat Yongpradit – Chief Academic Officer, Code.org & Lead, TeachAI

Pat delivered a clear-eyed reality check. AI is already in classrooms. Students are experimenting with it every day, often ahead of their teachers. Most educators have not received formal AI training yet, and while it is coming, it will take time before it reaches every school.

He also shared a statistic that surprised families: only 12 states require high school graduates to complete at least one computer science course during their K–12 education. This has been a multi-decade effort to get CS education into classrooms, so parents should not expect AI education to arrive overnight.

Pat’s message was simple and urgent: families cannot wait. Parents who begin conversations about AI at home now give their children a lasting advantage.

Dr. Casey Fiesler and Efren Caliva: Educators on the Frontlines

A professor and a principal spoke candidly about the double-edged impact of AI in schools.

Some are saving hours by using AI to generate lesson plans and instructional materials, freeing them to focus more on teaching.

Others are struggling with new challenges, such as AI-generated parent complaint letters. These messages are often longer, more technical, and more complex to address, creating heavier workloads for administrators.

Their message to families was consistent: schools need parent partnership. When families take the time to set expectations at home, schools can align with that guidance rather than react to conflicts that arise.

Parents’ Insights and Observations

Jason Weeby, Nu-Gina Rogers, and Nicole Lyon, all parents of kids in school now, added real-life urgency to the discussion.

• One parent described how a student at their school was expelled for using AI. The incident sent shockwaves of fear through the student body and revealed how inconsistent policies can create unnecessary anxiety.
  

• Another parent shared the frustration of their child being flagged by an AI “work checker” even when no AI had been used. The false accusation created mistrust and tension, showing how easily misunderstandings can damage relationships.

At the same time, parents also spoke with hope. As early beta users of the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN™, they expressed how empowering it felt to have a simple, structured way to guide their children. Several noted that it gave them language to start conversations they had been putting off. One parent said, “This is the first time I’ve felt like I could talk about AI with my child without fear of saying the wrong thing.” Another shared, “It only took a few minutes, but it changed the tone of how we talk about technology at home.”

These stories underscored why action at the family level is so critical. AI is already affecting children’s experiences, and parents are eager for tools that provide clarity and confidence.

Kelli Kilpatrick and Preparing for College and Careers

Kelli Kilpatrick, a former admissions officer at Duke, Notre Dame, and Texas A&M and now a college and career coach, joined Amy to explore how AI is transforming both education and the future of work. 

Amy highlighted how entry-level roles that once gave young people their first taste of responsibility are disappearing, replaced by automation, underscoring the urgency for families to prepare students differently. Kelli shared how Georgia Tech encourages applicants to use AI as a thought partner, like they would a human coach, while ensuring the work remains their own. AI can help students organize their ideas and present their stories more effectively. 

Kelli also noted that many parents are hesitant to use AI with their children, which is why the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN™ is so critical. When parents and kids explore AI together, they build confidence and understanding that will serve them well long before the college application process begins.

Amy D. Love – Founder, DISCOVERING AI

Amy reminded families of a truth every parent already knows. Parents would never hand our teenager the car keys without lessons, practice, and clear rules of the road. AI is no different. It is powerful, full of potential, and requires guidance.

That is why DISCOVERING AI created the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN™. In 10–15 minutes, parents can sit down with their children and:

• Set expectations for how AI will be used at home
  

• Align their family’s approach with what is happening at school
  

• Build confidence together in navigating the Age of AI

Amy also introduced the six essential traits that every child will need to thrive in the Age of AI:

• Adaptability, 

• Critical thinking, 

• Creativity, 

• Emotional intelligence, 

• Tech fluency, and 

• Initiative.

These traits are uniquely human and cannot be replaced by algorithms. Families that nurture them with intention position their children not only to adapt, but to lead.

What Makes DISCOVERING AI Different

Many organizations are talking about AI. Few are equipping families with simple, actionable tools they can use right away. The DISCOVERING AI movement is built on three commitments:

• Action over anxiety. We replace overwhelm with clarity, giving families practical steps they can take today.
  

• Traits over tools. Apps and platforms will change, yet human strengths endure. The real advantage is raising children with adaptability, creativity, and problem-solving skills.
  

• Discovery together. Parents and children learn side by side, building trust and confidence in the process, including through our weekly MindSpark activities.

This is what makes DISCOVERING AI unique. Families do not need to be experts. They need to be intentional.

Why This Matters Now

AI is no longer something on the horizon. It is shaping your child’s world today. It is embedded in the tools they use at school, the apps on their devices, and the media that influences their daily lives.

Families who act now can:

• Prevent confusion and conflict at home and in school
  

• Shape AI as a tool for creativity and learning, not distraction
  

• Position their children to thrive in a future where AI will touch every profession
  

This is not about restriction. It is about preparation. It is about making sure AI becomes a source of growth instead of tension.

The Momentum is Building

The September 24 DISCOVERING AI National Back-to-School Game Plan conversation marked the beginning of an annual tradition. Like preparing school supplies or sports schedules, families will gather at least each fall, if not each term, to reset their AI Game Plan.

The ripple effect is already visible. Families are sharing the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN™ with friends. PTAs are distributing it. Teachers are asking to align their classroom rules with what parents are creating at home. The movement is spreading because parents see themselves as part of something larger than their own household.

A special thank you to our social promoters on LinkedIn and Facebook who, in the weeks leading up to the event, helped spread the word about the FAMILY AI GAME PLAN™. Their posts reached thousands of parents, amplifying the message at exactly the right time. The event also gained national visibility through a feature in Forbes and coverage in the AI Buzz! newsletter.

Your Next Step

If you missed the live event, you can still join the movement today.

👉 Download your free FAMILY AI GAME PLAN™ at www.discoveringai.org

In just 15 minutes, you and your children can:

• Create clarity about how AI will be used in your home
  

• Align with expectations at school
  

• Begin building the six essential traits that will define their future

Final Word

The DISCOVERING AI Back-to-School Conversation made one truth clear: the future of AI will not be shaped only by technology. It will be shaped by the families who lead with intention.

This movement has begun. The only question is whether your family will be part of it.

👉 www.discoveringai.org