As School Reopens, Educators are Grappling with Issue of AI Use by Teachers and Students

As students return to school, Massachusetts education policy makers along with their counterparts throughout the nation are grappling with instituting new policies for use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the classroom by both teachers and students. 

While not necessarily providing any endorsements of a specific approach to AI in education, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has created an AI resource hub for educators, even as an AI task force continues its work to create and monitor the effective ness of those resources. 

In DESE's multi-year AI roadmap, resources were scheduled to be created and developed in spring to summer 2025. DESE plans to support implementation of AI use in the classroom through workshops, webinars, and trainings and technical assistance in the 2025-2026 school year. In the 2026-2027 school year, DESE plans to embed AI into its MA Curriculum Frameworks and Educator Preparation Programs.

DESE is currently seeking Massachusetts school staff and leaders to serve on the 2025-2026 Artificial Intelligence Task Force. The members of the task force will inform statewide AI goals and milestones, shape implementation supports, and develop strategies to help schools select and evaluate AI tools. Applications are being accepted through Thursday, September 4th. Interested educators can apply here.

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