The absence of federal laws and regulations governing use of artificial intelligence in the classroom is forcing teachers to rely on assorted advice from states, professional organizations, tech companies, and even TikTok influencers, according to an article in Education Week.
Teachers want federal guidance and guardrails on AI, experts told a Congressional committee. Lawmakers are still trying to get a handle on the federal role in AI integration.
More than 60 percent of K-12 teachers used AI in their classrooms in 2025, according to the EdWeek Research Center. That’s nearly double the number that used AI in 2023. Half of teachers have received some AI training, but content varied widely.
“The future of learning will require a blending of technology and human expertise, with teachers leading and guiding, and technology supporting,” says Aneesh Sohoni, the chief executive officer of Teach For America. “The choices we make will determine whether this technology helps or harms educators and students.”
Teach for America has provided training and created a network for 4,800 of its teachers to share how they use AI tools to improve students’ critical thinking.
One Congressional representative worries teachers “don’t have the bandwidth” to sift through different kinds of professional development, and could lean on training from private industry.
Tech giants are working to shape teacher training and make sure educators become familiar with their own tools.
Three of the largest AI developers, Anthropic, Microsoft, and OpenAI, have pledged $23 million to the American Federation of Teachers union to develop a “National Academy for AI Instruction” to develop AI literacy training and credentials for 400,000 teachers.
“If you’re a teacher, the thing that gets broken is a student” when tech companies move fast and break things, says David Slykhuis, the dean of education and human services at Valdosta State University. “Instead of moving fast, teachers need to move intentionally with technology; instead of breaking things, they need to nurture those students.”
“It’s hard to imagine another education technology that holds so much potential to make teachers’ jobs easier,” says Rep. Kevin Kiley, R-Calif., chairman of the education subcommittee. “But this potential also comes with challenges” such as protecting students’ privacy and ensuring they develop critical thinking about technology.
Education Week
