Washington, February 25: U.S. lawmakers recently held discussions on the increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools. They advised teachers to adopt time-saving tools but also warned about risks to privacy and academic integrity.
During a congressional hearing titled “Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the Age of AI,” Congressman Kevin Kiley noted that AI is already being widely utilized in schools. According to estimates, 60% of public school teachers in the U.S. used AI tools during the 2024-2025 academic year, benefiting from its clear advantages.
Kiley stated, “Teachers who use AI tools weekly estimate they save about six hours each week. This equates to nearly six additional weeks of teaching time over a year. However, 70% of teachers feel unprepared to use AI effectively in their classrooms.”
Citing survey findings, Kiley mentioned that nearly 40% of middle and high school students admitted to using AI to complete assignments without teacher permission.
West Virginia’s state school superintendent, Michelle Blatt, shared that her state has adopted guidelines instead of strict regulations. “The guidelines we implemented in West Virginia in 2024 have helped us enforce safety measures and precautions. We have revised our guidelines twice as new situations have arisen,” she said. However, Blatt emphasized, “AI can never replace our teachers in the classroom.”
Anish Sohoni, CEO of Teach For America and an Indian American, agreed, stating, “AI cannot replace teachers. It is a tool, not the primary level of learning. Students learn best when they feel safe and engaged. We know that relationships accelerate learning.”
He noted that their organization has trained thousands of teachers, with over 4,800 trained in responsible AI usage since 2020.
David Sleekhuis, representing colleges, remarked, “AI is already integrated into classrooms. It is not future technology. We must ensure that as we advance in teaching with AI, we do not become overly reliant on technology, and critical thinking skills remain essential.”
Alison Knox, Senior Director of Education and Workforce Policy at Microsoft, stated that teachers need “guidance and safety measures.” Microsoft does not use student data to inform any of its AI models, nor do they provide it to third-party providers. They also do not allow children under 13 to use their chatbot.
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