Key factors:
English/language arts and science lecturers had been nearly twice as more likely to say they use AI instruments in comparison with math lecturers or elementary lecturers of all topics, in accordance with a February 2025 survey from the RAND Company that delves into uneven AI adoption in colleges.
“As AI instruments and merchandise for academic functions develop into extra prevalent, research ought to observe their use amongst educators. Researchers may establish the actual wants AI is addressing in colleges and–probably–information the event of AI merchandise that higher meet these wants. As well as, information on educator use of AI may assist policymakers and practitioners take into account disparities in that use and implications for equitable, high-quality instruction throughout the US,” be aware authors Julia H. Kaufman, Ashley Woo, Joshua Eagan, Sabrina Lee, and Emma B. Kassan.
One-quarter of ELA, math, and science lecturers used AI instruments for educational planning or instructing within the 2023–2024 faculty yr. Practically 60 p.c of surveyed principals additionally reported utilizing AI instruments for his or her work in 2023-2024.
Among the many one-quarter of lecturers nationally who reported utilizing AI instruments, 64 p.c mentioned that they used them for educational planning solely, whether or not for his or her ELA, math, or science instruction; solely 11 p.c mentioned that they launched them to college students however didn’t do educational planning with them; and 25 p.c mentioned that they did each.
Though one-quarter of lecturers total reported utilizing AI instruments, the report’s authors noticed variations in AI use by topic taught and a few faculty traits. As an illustration, near 40 p.c of ELA or science lecturers mentioned they use AI, in comparison with 20 p.c of common elementary training or math lecturers. Academics and principals in higher-poverty colleges had been much less more likely to report utilizing AI instruments relative to these in lower-poverty colleges.
Eighteen p.c of principals reported that their colleges or districts supplied steerage on using AI by employees, lecturers, or college students. But, principals within the highest-poverty colleges had been about half as seemingly as principals within the lowest-poverty colleges to report that steerage was supplied (13 p.c and 25 p.c, respectively).
Principals cited an absence {of professional} improvement for utilizing AI instruments or merchandise (72 p.c), considerations about information privateness (70 p.c) and uncertainty about how AI can be utilized for his or her jobs (70 p.c) as elements having a significant or minor affect on their AI use.
The report additionally affords suggestions for training stakeholders:
1. All districts and colleges ought to craft intentional methods to assist lecturers’ AI use in methods that can most enhance the standard of instruction and scholar studying.
2. AI builders and decision-makers ought to take into account what helpful AI purposes have the best potential to enhance instructing and studying and tips on how to make these purposes accessible in high-poverty contexts.
3. Researchers ought to work hand-in-hand with AI builders to review use circumstances and develop a physique of proof on efficient AI purposes for varsity management, instructing, and studying.
