Seattle schools' Mike Starosky says Google is pushing districts into a forced choice
Mike StaroskyAssistant superintendent of academics, Seattle Public Schools, speaking to KING 5
Starosky says Google is trying to push districts into a forced choice between limiting AI and keeping Search, and says Seattle Public Schools would find an alternative for students if Google goes ahead as described.
“I think they're trying to put a strong emphasis on making us have to make a forced choice”
Reporting
Where this statement fits
Is Google forcing AI on schools through its Search policy?
Google says new controls will let schools enable Search and Gemini services separately. Zohran Mamdani accuses Google of trying to use monopoly power to force AI into schools, and Bernie Sanders says schools stopping student AI use would lose Search. The disagreement concerns the choice schools would have.
Source and context
Reporting
About this source
KING 5 report on Seattle Public Schools' new technology limits and Google's school Search policy, quoting Mike Starosky, the district's assistant superintendent of academics.
Before the quotation
Seattle Public Schools is starting new technology limits that block Gemini and AI-generated search summaries for students, and district leaders are trying to learn whether AI can be separated from Google Search.
After the quotation
Starosky says the district, which relies mainly on Microsoft products, does not expect a big impact at first. If Google goes ahead as described, he says, the district would find an alternative for students.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The reference point is Google's school access policy for Search and its AI tools. Starosky describes the policy as an effort to force districts into a choice and says the district would look for an alternative, which criticizes it.
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- Google LLC
More from this case
Read the full caseMarkey tells Google its school Search policy is an ultimatum, not a choice
“That is not a choice. It is an ultimatum to effectively force schools to enable generative AI. Google is recklessly forcing AI on schools and treating kids like collateral damage. Schools deserve the right to block student access to AI chatbots without also forfeiting access to an important educational tool.”Read statement
EFF says Google is still pushing unwanted AI into classrooms
Electronic Frontier Foundation
“Google walked this back somewhat, clarifying that Gemini, Gemini notebook, and Search will have their own controls and will be off by default. But because of Google’s broader approach to force AI on all search users, this change is still an example of a tech monopolist pushing unwanted changes into the classroom.”Read statement
New Scientist's Jacob Aron says Google's all-or-nothing school policy is a product decision
“Google really is presenting schools with an all-or-nothing choice. This is a product decision, not a technical one. AI Overviews do not appear on every search, and they can be disabled for every search by adding a short code to the URL. Google could surely provide schools with this option, if it wished.”Read statement
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- Seattle schools' Mike Starosky says Google is pushing districts into a forced choice
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The Dispute Index. "Seattle schools' Mike Starosky says Google is pushing districts into a forced choice". First published: 2026-11-13. Last updated: 2026-11-13. https://disputeindex.com/events/8761-starosky-says-google-is-trying-to-push-districts