Artificial intelligence is making its way into classrooms across the country, but how it's being used, and whether it's embraced or restricted, depends largely on the district.
Some school districts are focused on preventing students from using AI to do school work for them, while others are leaning into AI as a way to prepare students for a changing workforce.
But nearly all are asking the same question: How do we integrate AI without compromising learning or trust?
Earlier this year, in April, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create new educational and workforce development opportunities for America's youth, establishing the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, which is responsible for implementing and promoting "the appropriate integration of AI into education, providing comprehensive AI training for educators, and fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of American AI innovators," according to a White House fact sheet.
Over the summer, the U.S. Department of Education weighed in on the matter, confirming in a letter that federal education funds can be used to support AI initiatives, including developing or purchasing instructional tools that adapt to learners in real time, or expanding access to personalized learning materials, so long as those uses follow existing laws and regulations.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon has also proposed prioritizing grants to AI-focused initiatives.
"Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionize education," McMahon said in a statement in July, adding that responsible use requires parent and teacher engagement, ethical safeguards and a focus on individualized learning.
In Hancock Place School District in St. Louis, Missouri, which includes nearly 1,300 children, AI isn't just allowed, it's part of a formal plan.
"We have a formal, board-approved AI policy along with a comprehensive AI Use Plan," Michelle Dirksen, the district's director of technology, told ABC News.
The district has vetted tools like Brisk, a Chrome and Edge extension that helps teachers with curriculum, feedback, and differentiation, and Snorkl, an app that uses AI to give students feedback on their thinking, and has appointed an AI coordinator to oversee implementation.
This summer, Hancock Place hosted the first AI Educator Summit in the St. Louis region, drawing more than 160 educators from 16 districts, according to Dirksen.
"They're already using AI creatively for feedback, writing support, engagement and differentiation," Dirksen said. "While some are still building confidence, we're committed to providing the training and resources they need."
For Tom Colabufo, superintendent of the Central Square School District in New York, which serves 3,600 students, AI has become essential to closing the post-pandemic achievement gap.
"Since COVID-19, the gap between high-performing students and struggling learners has widened more than ever before," he told ABC News.
Colabufo explained that AI helps teachers plan lessons aligned to state standards while differentiating for advanced students and those who need more support, including Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, and accommodations for students with disabilities.
"What once took hours of manual planning can now be accomplished in minutes," he said. "AI can also analyze student work through secure, compliant platforms, offering instant feedback and targeted intervention strategies."
Colabufo was quick to push back on the idea that using AI is "cheating" when it comes to teaching.
"We care less about where teachers source their lesson materials from and more about student engagement, learning outcomes and classroom experience," he said. "AI enhances all of those elements."
When it comes to students, Colabufo said he believes the key is rethinking assessment. "Plagiarism existed long before AI. What matters now is creating authentic, in-class assessments that reflect students' true capabilities," he said, noting that his district uses monitoring tools to ensure academic integrity.
Colabufo also pointed out that AI can be a lifeline for students struggling to grasp certain concepts. He shared the example of his own son, who used ChatGPT to get step-by-step math help.
"That's not cheating, it's maximizing resources," he said.
With the federal government now signaling that AI can be funded through existing education grants, the path forward is clearer, but not every district is ready to take it. Some school districts remain cautious, creating task forces or waiting for more concrete guardrails before committing.
Karle Delo, an AI strategist at Michigan Virtual, a nonprofit provider of online courses for educators and students, says resistance often comes from not fully understanding the technology, and that's where schools can take a leadership role.
"When I work with districts, we start by creating an AI task force or work group," Delo told ABC News. "That leads to guidance that addresses concerns like academic integrity, cheating and misinformation. If we just ignore it, those problems continue. But if we're proactive, we can control the narrative and guide students to use the technology responsibly."
She added that the same principle applies to individual teachers.
"If you understand how to use the technology yourself, you're going to be much more prepared for conversations with students about it," she said. "I'm not here to push AI, but let's be informed about it and come to it from an educated place."
That emphasis on balance and responsibility is echoed in a 2024 National Education Association task force report, which stressed that while AI can be powerful, authentic teacher-student relationships must remain at the center of learning.
The report warned against reducing that idea to "keeping humans in the loop," arguing that what matters most is trust, connection and student well-being, something no algorithm can replace.
Whatever the case, educators and leaders seem to agree that ignoring AI won't make it go away -- it's already here.
"You don't have to go to ChatGPT anymore to interact with AI," Delo told ABC News. "It's coming to us, and it's a skill that's increasingly valued in the workplace."
