In the absence of federal laws and regulations on using artificial intelligence in the classroom, teachers rely on a grab bag of advice: from states, professional organizations, tech companies, and TikTok influencers.
Teachers want federal 鈥済uidance and guardrails鈥� on AI, experts told the House subcommittee on early, elementary, and secondary education at a hearing Tuesday. Lawmakers are still trying to get a handle on the federal role in AI integration, following President Donald Trump鈥榮 executive order last spring to infuse the technology throughout K-12.
鈥淲e鈥檙e taking AI seriously,鈥� said Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich. 鈥淲hether we understand it or not, we need to know about it and know best practices.鈥�
More than 60 percent of K-12 teachers told the EdWeek Research Center that they used AI-based tools in their classrooms in 2025, nearly double the share that used the technology just two years before. Half of teachers said they have received at least some training in the tools, though the substance varied widely.
鈥淎I is a tool, not the primary driver of learning,鈥� said Aneesh Sohoni, the chief executive officer of Teach For America. The group has provided training and created a network for 4,800 of its teachers to share how they use AI tools to improve students鈥� critical thinking.
鈥淭he future of learning will require a blending of technology and human expertise, with teachers leading and guiding, and technology supporting,鈥� Sohoni said. 鈥淭he choices we make will ultimately help determine whether this technology helps or harms 糖心动漫vlog and students.鈥�
West Virginia was among the first states to for schools, in 2023, and it already has had to update the guidance twice, according to state Superintendent Michele Blatt. The state has launched an initiative to train its teachers to use Microsoft鈥檚 Copilot, an AI-based tool, for lesson plans and other content.
But Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., expressed concern that teachers 鈥渄on鈥檛 have the bandwidth鈥� to sort through different kinds of professional development, and could rely too much on training from private industry.
Tech giants are jockeying to shape teacher training鈥攁nd ensure 糖心动漫vlog become familiar with their own tools. Google on Monday announced a plan with ISTE-ASCD, which represents education technology and curriculum officials, to provide for 6 million teachers.
Likewise, three of the largest AI developers, Anthropic, Microsoft, and OpenAI, last summer pledged $23 million to the American Federation of Teachers union to develop a 鈥�National Academy for AI Instruction鈥� intended to develop AI literacy training and credentials for 400,000 teachers.
鈥淚t may be a great mantra for a tech company to 鈥榤ove fast and break things鈥� when the thing that gets broken is an app. If you鈥檙e a teacher, the thing that that gets broken is a student,鈥� said David Slykhuis, the dean of education and human services at Valdosta State University, who was testifying on behalf of the American Association of Colleges of Teacher Education at the hearing. 鈥淚nstead of moving fast, teachers need to move intentionally with technology; instead of breaking things, they need to nurture those students.鈥�
Allyson Knox, the senior director of education and workforce policy at Microsoft, said it鈥檚 important for teachers to get and give ongoing feedback in how they are using technology tools. For example, both Knox and Sohoni said special education teachers have been developing practices to use AI both in adapting lessons for students with disabilities and in communicating with parents.
鈥淚t鈥檚 hard to imagine another education technology that holds so much potential to make teachers鈥� jobs easier,鈥� said Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., chairman of the education subcommittee. 鈥淏ut this potential also comes with challenges鈥� such as protecting students鈥� privacy and ensuring they develop critical thinking about technology.
