What’s Happening in AI & K–12 Education Right Now

Every week, it seems like the conversation around AI in schools accelerates. This past week alone, major headlines and district initiatives are showing us something important:

AI is no longer just an emerging conversation, it’s here. And the leaders shaping it today will define the equity and innovation of tomorrow.

Here’s what’s happening in AI and K–12 education this week:

1. Sal Khan: AI Should Feel Like “Graduate Students for Every Teacher”

Sal Khan, founder of Khan Academy, told BBC that he envisions AI operating like “four or five amazing graduate students” assisting each teacher.

Not to replace teaching, but to support it by:

• Automating grading

• Designing lessons

• Tracking student engagement

• Surfacing insights about learners’ interests and attention

At a moment when teachers are facing burnout and overload, Khan is reminding us: AI can and should be a tool to make teaching more human, not less.

2. National Poll: Teachers Using AI Save Nearly 6 Hours Per Week

A national Gallup/Walton Family Foundation poll revealed that 60% of U.S. K–12 teachers are now using AI at least weekly.

Those teachers report saving an average of 5.9 hours each week, time they’re reinvesting into:

• Giving more student feedback

• Personalizing lessons

• Communicating with families

• Reducing burnout and stress

Of course, these tools must complement, not replace, teachers’ expertise and care. But the impact is real.

3. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS): “AI Champions” Initiative

CMS in North Carolina is moving boldly with a districtwide AI strategy:

• 30 schools named “AI Champions” to pilot use

• Staff and student guidelines being developed now

• Controlled rollout of Google Gemini and other tools

• Over 10,000 voices contributing to shaping district policy

This is a leadership move, showing how districts can prototype the future without waiting for perfect policy.

4. Kerala, India: Hands-On AI & Robotics for 10th Graders

In Kerala (India), the state just launched an AI and robotics curriculum for all 10th grade students, with a particular focus on inclusive tools for students with disabilities.

It’s a powerful example of how AI can be taught from a young age, not just as a technical skill, but as an ethical, creative, and human-centered subject.

Why This Matters

If you’re a school leader, district leader, or policy-maker, the message is clear:
AI is moving fast, and the schools who prepare now will create the most future-ready, equitable opportunities for their students.

This is not a time for fear or paralysis.
It is a time for leadership.

AI is:

• Freeing teachers’ time

• Supporting personalization

• Elevating instructional quality

• Shaping the culture of learning itself

But without leadership, it could also widen equity gaps, if only certain schools or communities build AI capacity.

What Should We Do Now?

• Start small, but start now. Even one school or one team can lead by example.

• Center equity. Ensure your AI strategy reaches special education, multilingual learners, and underserved communities.

• Invest in teacher learning. The human element is everything.

• Prototype policies before they’re perfect. Waiting for national mandates could mean falling years behind.

If you want to go deeper into how to bring AI leadership to your school or district, or if you’re ready to prototype your own AI Starter Lab, reach out.

The future is here. The question is whether we will lead it, or be led by it.

-Uche