Artificial intelligence (AI)—computer systems that are used to perform tasks that involve reasoning, decision-making, and creating—is the latest technology to challenge education. Like computers and the internet before it, AI promises to change the future of work. And that means teachers and students need to learn how to teach and work with AI now.
With that in mind, it’s no surprise that the Trump administration has made AI a priority. So far, the administration has published an executive order, a follow-up Dear Colleague Letter, and a broader AI Action Plan, all with implications for education.
We talked with three experts—Amanda Bickerstaff, cofounder and CEO of AI for Education, Alex Kotran, co-founder and CEO of the AI Education Project, and Irina Lyublinskaya, professor of mathematics and education at Columbia University’s Teachers College in New York—to learn more about what the Trump administration’s actions taken to advance AI in education could mean for teachers.
Why the focus on AI?
Bickerstaff sees the federal government getting ahead of AI in education before there is actual market demand. Right now, a few district leaders may be championing AI but it’s not ubiquitous. “It’s becoming more recognized that AI literacy is going to be a key skill in the future,” Bickerstaff told We Are Teachers.
In 20 years, every job will be affected by AI “At the end of the day,” says Kotran, “we want every student to be ready for the age of AI.” And because AI is a transformative technology, the approach requires new strategies. “You can’t just use the same playbook as computer science,” says Kotran.
Currently, AI is not uniformly integrated into the curriculum, and teachers are not systematically trained on it. If a teacher is interested in AI, they may choose to incorporate it into their classroom, according to Lyublinskaya. Some students may seek out AI experiences, but it is not mandated or systematic.
What strategy is the Trump administration taking with AI literacy?
In April 2025, the White House issued an executive order titled “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth.” The executive order is focused on “fostering AI competency” to “equip our students with the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt and thrive in an increasingly digital society.” The vision is for students to be proficient in AI as they move through school, from elementary school through college.
It’s tied to a larger goal of making sure the U.S. is the leader in AI tools. Right now, the U.S. is the leader in AI, says Bickerstaff. So there is a big interest in making sure the country remains the leader in AI development.
In order to achieve those goals, teachers must be trained in AI literacy and how to use AI to improve student outcomes. To that end, the executive order takes action to:
- Provide resources for AI education
- Improve and expand teacher training in AI
- Provide AI apprenticeships to students for college and career readiness
In July, the U.S. Department of Education issued a Dear Colleague letter. The letter states that the DOE will use federal grant funding to improve education outcomes using AI. In the letter, Secretary of Education Linda McMahon expressed confidence in AI’s ability to advance education through “personalized learning,” sharpening critical thinking, and advancing problem-solving skills.
According to the letter, the DOE wants to fund projects that:
- Integrate AI literacy into teaching practices
- Expand AI and computer science education across K-12 and higher education
- Support teacher development on the use of AI
- Use AI to personalize learning and support differentiation
The letter made clear that the administration wants to advance programs that use AI to develop instructional materials, enhance high-impact tutoring, and support college and career advising.
Learn more: AI Literacy Guide: How To Teach It, Plus Resources To Help
What can teachers expect?
Supporting AI in schools is, on the whole, something that both sides of the political aisle agree on, says Kotran. Education often lags behind industry in adopting and teaching new technology, and AI is no exception.
“AI is this new technology that can be used for good and bad,” says Lyublinskaya, “and we need to have educators who are prepared.” It’s also about getting ready for the changes AI will bring. “In five to ten years, every school will be using AI tools to some degree,” says Kotran.
That doesn’t mean schools are going fully online or that teachers are becoming obsolete. “We’ve been talking about AI ad nauseam,” says Kotran, “but there is no one school where AI has transformed teaching and learning.”
Still, AI is here to stay. Teachers will need professional development and opportunities to experiment, all within the structures schools already have. Bickerstaff thinks it’s a step in the right direction to focus on AI in schools. “So much of what’s happening has not been about classrooms,” she says, but these actions are.
What happens next depends on how states and districts respond. Public and private partnerships will also be key. “The next thing to watch,” says Kotran, “is how the private and philanthropic sectors step up.” Those partnerships will shape what teachers and students experience in the long run.
Where can I learn more?
As the federal government continues developing its AI literacy initiatives, start learning more about AI and how to use the tools in the classroom with these resources:
- ISTE+ASCD has online resources for teachers to learn about AI.
- AI for Education has free courses and resources.
- aiEDU has educator resources and guides.
- Harvard offers free courses on AI..
- Read Lyublinskaya’s book, Teaching AI Literacy Across the Curriculum.
- The News Literacy Project has information about AI literacy.
Plus, if you’re interested in writing an AI policy for your school, learn how here.
