California Schools Face Backlash Over AI Tool Serving Inappropriate Images to Students

Fourth-graders in Los Angeles Unified School District received sexually explicit images when using an AI-powered graphic design program for a homework assignment.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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California school districts have been implementing AI tools in classrooms, but early experiments have triggered controversy. In December 2025, a fourth-grade class at an elementary school in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) received a homework assignment asking students to create a book cover of Pippi Longstocking. One student's request for an image of 'long stockings, red haired girl with braids sticking out' resulted in the program generating explicitly sexual images instead.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the risks and challenges of introducing AI technology into K-12 classrooms without proper safeguards and oversight. While California schools are eager to prepare students for the future, the lack of transparency and uneven implementation of AI policies across districts raises concerns about student safety and the responsible use of these powerful tools.

The details

The AI tool used by the students was Adobe Express for Education, a graphic design software program accessed through the district's Schoology learning management system. It's unclear if students were explicitly instructed to use the AI feature, but parents say they weren't discouraged from doing so. Other parents were able to replicate the inappropriate image results using the same prompts. This lack of transparency around the AI tool's capabilities and the district's policies on its use has fueled broader concerns about how California is handling AI in education.

  • In December 2025, a fourth-grade class at an LAUSD elementary school received the homework assignment.
  • In 2023, California schools began discussing implementing artificial intelligence into classrooms after the rise in use of ChatGPT.
  • The California Department of Education released initial guidance on AI in classrooms in 2023, followed by more detailed guidance in 2024.

The players

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

The second-largest school district in the nation, which has been implementing AI tools in classrooms.

Julie

An LAUSD parent who raised concerns about the inappropriate images generated by the AI tool used by her child's fourth-grade class.

Christian Pinedo

The vice president of external affairs and advocacy at The AI Education Project, who sits on the California Department of Education's AI working group.

Amy Eguchi

A teaching professor in computer science education at the University of California, San Diego's Department of Education Studies, who has been involved in AI for K-12 initiatives since around 2016.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The California Department of Education is expected to release updated guidance on the safe and effective use of AI in TK-12 schools, providing more support and resources for districts to implement these technologies responsibly.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the need for stronger oversight, transparency, and clear policies around the use of AI tools in K-12 classrooms. As California schools continue to embrace these technologies, they must prioritize student safety and ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.