Keeping AI SAFE

Alongside Joins Forces with the EDSAFE Industry Council to Prioritize Student Safety

As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into educational technology, ensuring that AI-powered tools are safe, accountable, fair, and efficacious is paramount. Founded in 2020, the EDSAFE AI Alliance harnesses the collective impact of diverse stakeholders to provide global leadership for developing a safer, more secure, more equitable, and more trusted AI education ecosystem.

As part of Alongside’s commitment to prioritize student safety above all else, we are proud members of the EDSAFE AI Industry Council, a coalition of companies committed to developing policies, practices, and product solutions consistent with the SAFE Framework. Developed in coordination with two dozen education associations, non-profits, and policy groups, the SAFE Framework provides a roadmap for developing ed tech solutions that are available, useful, safe, and productive for all students and teachers.

How Alongside aligns with each pillar of the SAFE framework…

Safety: Protecting Student Data Privacy

Student data privacy and security are non-negotiable in any ed tech tool, especially one dealing with sensitive mental health information. Alongside takes extensive measures to safeguard student data, including:

• Encrypting all student conversations with the AI chatbot
• Adhering to FERPA, COPPA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulations
• Implementing strict access controls for school administrators

Alongside also has clear protocols for escalating high-risk situations like self-harm to school counselors and emergency services, balancing student safety with privacy.

Accountability: Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration

Alongside was developed in close partnership with clinical psychologists, school counselors, district leaders, and most importantly, students themselves. This multi-stakeholder approach ensures Alongside remains accountable to the diverse needs of the school communities it serves.

Through an expansive student internship program, Alongside empowers teens to directly shape the product's features, language, and user experience. Regular focus groups and feedback sessions with educators and mental health professionals also drive iterative improvements.

Fairness & Transparency: Equitable Access & Bias Mitigation

Alongside is designed to democratize access to quality mental health support for all students, regardless of their background or circumstances. The platform offers:

• Multilingual capabilities (36+ languages) to support English Learners
• Accessible user interface optimized for students with disabilities
• Compatibility with assistive technologies like screen readers
• Proactive outreach to groups historically underserved by mental health resources

Additionally, Alongside's AI model is informed by a diverse dataset reflecting the demographics of the students it serves. The team also conducts regular audits to monitor for unintended biases in the AI's outputs and continuously refines the model.

Efficacy: Evidence-Based Outcomes & Evaluation

At its core, Alongside aims to improve student mental health outcomes and complement the work of school counseling teams. The platform translates evidence-based therapeutic techniques like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) into engaging, personalized digital experiences.

Alongside's efficacy is rigorously evaluated through a combination of:

• In-app assessments measuring changes in student wellbeing over time
• Anonymous student feedback and satisfaction ratings
• School-level data on counseling referrals and crisis interventions
• Aggregated engagement metrics and trends across student populations

This data-driven approach allows schools to measure the tangible impact of Alongside on key mental health indicators and identify areas for targeted support.

By thoughtfully adhering to the SAFE Framework across its design and deployment, Alongside demonstrates the transformative potential of responsible AI in education. Through a commitment to student safety, multi-stakeholder accountability, equitable access, and evidence-based efficacy, Alongside is setting a new standard for leveraging AI to support student wellbeing at scale.

As more school districts turn to AI-powered tools to meet the growing mental health needs of their students, aligning with frameworks like EDSAFE will be essential. Alongside offers a model for how ed tech providers can embrace these principles to create AI solutions that truly serve the best interests of students and educators.