In Washington on February 25, US Congress examined AI’s surge in schools during the ‘Building an AI-Ready America’ hearing. Lawmakers endorsed its workload relief for teachers but flagged dangers to privacy and honest scholarship.
Congressman Kevin Kiley shared: 60% of public educators used AI in 2024-2025, with weekly adopters gaining six hours – nearly six weeks yearly. Yet 70% report readiness gaps.
Surveys exposed issues: 40% of teens used AI covertly for schoolwork.
Superintendent Michele Blatt of West Virginia favored evolving guidelines from 2024, tweaked twice. ‘AI won’t replace educators,’ she said.
Anish Sohoni, Teach For America head, trained 4,800+ on responsible use post-2020. ‘AI tools enhance; human relationships fuel learning,’ he noted.
David Sleekhuis cautioned colleges: ‘Embed AI without sidelining critical skills.’
Allison Knox of Microsoft promised: no student data in models, no sharing, no chatbots for kids under 13 – pure guidance for teachers.
The session charts a cautious embrace of AI, prioritizing safeguards to protect education’s core amid technological transformation.