Back to School in the Era of AI

The new school year arrives with more than sharpened pencils—it brings AI, from chatbots to adaptive platforms. Here’s how schools are adapting to the future of education.

Author

Shira Lazar
August 17, 2025

Target is packed, Amazon carts are full, and every parent I know is juggling label makers, lunch boxes, and last-minute orders. The annual back-to-school scramble is in full force. For many, getting kids back into routine feels like reclaiming sanity.

But this year, there’s a new item on the checklist: AI. While we’re still debating screen time and TikTok limits, a deeper shift is happening in the classroom. From kindergarten to college, the role of AI in education is no longer theoretical—it’s here.

K–12 in Transition

In Washington, D.C., Virginia, and Maryland schools, the 2025–26 year starts with AI already baked in—some schools using chatbots, others deploying surveillance tools, even amid broader safety upgrades and device-policy shifts.

In Australia, students at St Mary MacKillop College using AI-powered tools like Education Perfect and Perplexity saw a 47% average boost in writing quality and soaring engagement, according to teachers.

College Course Corrections

The class of 2026 grew up with generative AI—not as a cheat code, but as a coping tool. Professors are split: some ban AI and push handwritten exams, while others embed AI literacy directly into the curriculum.

Universities are stepping up:

  • Barnard: Gemini + NotebookLM access

  • Columbia: AI leadership pipelines

  • NYU: interdisciplinary access

  • MIT: immersive AI coursework

Economist Tyler Cowen even argues a third of college study time should be spent learning how to use AI—not just memorizing content—warning current models underprepare students for disruption.

A Global Shift

This isn’t just an American story. In China, “smart classrooms” already use biometric AI to track student attention—sparking debates about surveillance. In Europe, the EU has pushed strict guardrails for AI in schools, while UNESCO urges governments to ensure AI enhances equity instead of eroding human-centered teaching.

The big question worldwide: will AI be used to amplify learning—or to monitor and control it?

The Equity Question

Back in the U.S., AI training is ramping up: 23% of districts offered it in 2023, 48% by 2024, and nearly 75% are projected by 2025. But the divide is stark. Wealthier districts roll out adaptive tutoring and teacher copilots, while low-income schools often get monitoring tools or bans.

The risk? Instead of closing gaps, AI could widen them—giving some kids personalized feedback and others only digital discipline. The “AI homework divide” may become the new digital divide.

At the same time, there are bright spots aimed at closing that gap. This summer, Princeton University hosted a free AI4ALL camp for 30 low-income high schoolers, where students worked on AI solutions to real-world challenges like wildfire monitoring and cancer research. For many, it was their first hands-on exposure to AI. As one camper put it: “It’s not just about who has access to AI, but who is building it.”

Beyond buzz and policy, AI has real utility for teachers. A Gallup/Walton Family Foundation study found educators using AI save 6 hours a week—the equivalent of six weeks per school year—on grading, lesson prep, and admin tasks. That’s time that could go back into mentoring and student connection.

Tools to Watch in the Classroom

AI isn’t just a theory—it’s already reshaping how students learn and teachers teach. A few standouts:

  • OpenAI Study Mode → Breaks down tough material, quizzes you, and helps review—without just giving the answer.

  • Perplexity → A research sidekick that always cites sources.

  • Education Perfect → Boosted student writing quality by 47% in Australia.

  • NotebookLM (Google) → Upload notes/readings, then get instant summaries or practice questions.

  • Khanmigo (Khan Academy) → A tutor that walks students through problems step by step.

  • Diffit → Teachers can instantly adapt any text into multiple reading levels.

  • MagicSchool.ai → Teacher copilot for lesson plans, rubrics, and parent communication.

  • Chegg Create + Solution Scout → Chegg’s AI pivot: custom practice tests + side-by-side solutions—though it’s struggling against free AI alternatives.

💡 So What?

  • Parents: Ask schools how they’re using AI—creativity, not just surveillance.

  • Students: Don’t just avoid AI; learn it. Fluency is a career skill.

  • Teachers: Use AI to save time, but double down on human lessons—empathy, collaboration, adaptability.

The Bigger Assignment

Ironically, the more AI takes over repetitive tasks, the more schools need to teach the skills machines can’t: empathy, creativity, and resilience. These “soft” skills may be the hardest currency in tomorrow’s job market.

So yes, the backpacks are heavier with gadgets and the lesson plans coded with algorithms. But the real assignment? Teaching the next generation not just how to work with AI, but how to lead with humanity.

Other headlines to check out:

AI

Creator Economy

Web3 

🎧 New Episode of The AI Download:

On this episode of The AI Download, I sat down with futurist and strategist Shelly Palmer—who advises Fortune 500s on AI—to pull back the curtain on how he actually helps companies build with AI.

With GPT-5 now in the wild and AI agents changing how we work, Shelly shares the frameworks he uses inside boardrooms: how to start with a clear business goal, pick the right model for the job, protect sensitive data, and experiment responsibly without chasing hype.

🎙️ Listen now to get caught up on the AI headlines you need to know plus insights on future of life, creativity and culture.

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