President Trump issued an executive order in April 2025 announcing the federal government’s intention to support the integration of technology throughout K-12. While this certainly announces a broad direction, it also raises questions of how technology, particularly AI, will impact K-12 students and educators.
With those questions in mind, educators and relevant stakeholders went before U.S. House subcommittee on early, elementary, and secondary education to voice the need for clarity on how AI in education will be governed and the role of the federal government in light of President Trump’s position to increase the presence of technology in K-12.
Given that AI developers are eager to flood the market with new tools for educators, many of which will be the first of their kind, educators expressed some concern about the long-term national impacts of AI implementation without some broad consensus reached at the federal level as to “guidance and guardrails.” We look forward to hearing more on how federal lawmakers reconcile AI as a fast moving technology and the importance of getting it right for students across the country.
"AI is a tool, not the primary driver of learning," said Aneesh Sohoni, the chief executive officer of Teach For America. The group 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.
"The future of learning will require a blending of technology and human expertise, with teachers leading and guiding, and technology supporting," Sohoni said. "The choices we make will ultimately help determine whether this technology helps or harms educators and students."
