From a0ca393826cf8d3fb15c4eb3ced6cbfe148e647b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Samson Akol <akolson2010@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2026 16:01:42 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 1/4] Mark the required sections in the pull request template

The template check adds a marker convention: a section is required when its
heading carries a REQUIRED comment, and a section without one stays optional.
The check reads the marker from the template, so deleting the comment blocks
from a pull request body does not change what is required.
---
 .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md | 4 ++++
 1 file changed, 4 insertions(+)

diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index af88746..f59fb51 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 -->
 
 ## Summary
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
  * headline description of the change
  * motivation for the change
@@ -16,6 +17,7 @@
 …
 
 ## References
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
  * references to related issues and PRs
 -->
@@ -23,6 +25,7 @@
 …
 
 ## Reviewer guidance
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
  * manual verification steps you have performed
  * anything additional a reviewer can do to test these changes?
@@ -59,3 +62,4 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
 -->
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->

From 981262ab937af5ddeaeccf640b24dca9c22f3d57 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Samson Akol <akolson2010@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2026 18:11:11 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 2/4] Point the header instruction at every required section

The header named the AI usage section as the only required one. Summary,
References and Reviewer guidance carry the marker too, so it contradicted them.
---
 .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index f59fb51..2488d50 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <!--
- 1. REQUIRED: Always fill in the AI usage section at the bottom
+ 1. REQUIRED: Fill in every section marked REQUIRED, including AI usage at the bottom
  2. Following guidance below, replace …'s with your own words
  3. After saving the PR, tick of completed checklist items
  4. Skip checklist items that are not applicable or not necessary

From a4158a7935de8c467db0324d9aa9c6c6406711f1 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Samson Akol <akolson2010@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2026 19:30:16 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 3/4] Put the AI usage comment under its heading

Every other section carries its guidance comment after the heading. AI usage
carried it before, in the pull request template and in all seven issue
templates, so the block read as part of the section above it.

In the pull request template the comment also opened with "AI USAGE -
REQUIRED", which the heading and the REQUIRED marker now say.
---
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md                | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md        | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md            | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md              | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md            | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md     | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md | 3 +--
 .github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md                   | 7 ++-----
 8 files changed, 9 insertions(+), 19 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md
index d8825ed..b032ad3 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ Tell us about your environment, including:
 
 …
 
+## AI usage
 <!--
 AI USAGE - REQUIRED
 
@@ -92,5 +93,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   the requirements in my own words."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md
index 3e86eba..da4c07f 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ Instructions:
 <!-- (Optional) Explain possible issues/costs that could arise - if any - from implementing this enhancement -->
 
 
+## AI usage
 <!--
 AI USAGE - REQUIRED
 
@@ -54,5 +55,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   the requirements in my own words."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md
index 211d71b..d2824d6 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ type: Tracking Issue
 
 - [Link]
 
+## AI usage
 <!--
 AI USAGE - REQUIRED
 
@@ -84,5 +85,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   the requirements in my own words."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md
index 06f0d39..3ea27c6 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ about: For issues that don't fit any other category
 
 
 
+## AI usage
 <!--
 AI USAGE - REQUIRED
 
@@ -36,5 +37,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   the requirements in my own words."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md
index 0b78dad..10db6b3 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ _[Then, more detail. Provide a short summary and/or list key outcomes that the u
 ### Accessibility Requirements
 
 
+## AI usage
 <!--
 AI USAGE - REQUIRED
 
@@ -51,5 +52,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   the requirements in my own words."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md
index e2da328..bcfe17b 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ OPTIONAL - Delete if not needed.
 Links to documentation, code references, or relevant libraries.
 -->
 
+## AI usage
 <!--
 AI USAGE - REQUIRED
 
@@ -126,5 +127,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   the requirements in my own words."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md
index 676dc0d..2007f22 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ Only include if there's a unifying test strategy across sub-tasks.
 Otherwise, leave testing guidance to individual task issues.
 -->
 
+## AI usage
 <!--
 AI USAGE - REQUIRED
 
@@ -76,5 +77,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   the requirements in my own words."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 2488d50..a4403eb 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@
 
 …
 
+## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the PR is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you:
@@ -60,6 +60,3 @@ Examples of good disclosures:
   verbosity and ran the full test suite."
 
 -->
-
-## AI usage
-<!-- REQUIRED -->

From af6edc4960c36b206881c77117900169ba902530 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Samson Akol <akolson2010@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 21 Oct 2026 19:39:16 +0300
Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Harmonize the AI usage section in the issue templates

The pull request template marks the section with a REQUIRED comment under the
heading. The issue templates said REQUIRED inside the description comment
instead, so the same section carried two shapes.

The marker now opens the section in all of them, and the duplicated line is
gone. Nothing reads an issue template yet: the check in #102 runs on pull
requests only.
---
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md                | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md        | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md            | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md              | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md            | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md     | 3 +--
 .github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md | 3 +--
 7 files changed, 7 insertions(+), 14 deletions(-)

diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md
index b032ad3..9a5ff41 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/bug_issue.md
@@ -70,9 +70,8 @@ Tell us about your environment, including:
 …
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the issue is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you:
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md
index da4c07f..c6a943f 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/enhancement_issue.md
@@ -32,9 +32,8 @@ Instructions:
 
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the issue is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you:
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md
index d2824d6..f040360 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/feature_issue.md
@@ -62,9 +62,8 @@ type: Tracking Issue
 - [Link]
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the issue is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you:
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md
index 3ea27c6..abde6bf 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/other_issue.md
@@ -14,9 +14,8 @@ about: For issues that don't fit any other category
 
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the issue is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you:
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md
index 10db6b3..c5e2694 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/product_issue.md
@@ -29,9 +29,8 @@ _[Then, more detail. Provide a short summary and/or list key outcomes that the u
 
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the issue is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you:
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md
index bcfe17b..00f1bb1 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_task_issue.md
@@ -104,9 +104,8 @@ Links to documentation, code references, or relevant libraries.
 -->
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the issue is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you:
diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md
index 2007f22..a9374b4 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/technical_tracking_issue.md
@@ -54,9 +54,8 @@ Otherwise, leave testing guidance to individual task issues.
 -->
 
 ## AI usage
+<!-- REQUIRED -->
 <!--
-AI USAGE - REQUIRED
-
 State explicitly whether you didn't use or used AI & how.
 
 If you used it, ensure that the issue is aligned with [Using AI](https://learningequality.org/contributing-to-our-open-code-base/#using-generative-ai as well) as well as our DEEP framework. DEEP asks you: