Armonk, September 3 — IBM announced new U.S. research on AI readiness in K-12 schools and the launch of the IBM K-12 AI leaders fellowship, just a day after releasing the findings of a survey on the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms. The survey, which polled 2,048 U.S. adults, including 1,019 K-12 education professionals and 1,029 parents of K-12 students, found that AI is becoming a routine part of K-12 teaching and learning, but systems supporting responsible AI use are still catching up.
The study revealed a significant gap between how quickly AI enters classrooms and how prepared schools are to manage it, with 77% of parents wanting input on how AI is used in their child’s classroom, but only 20% clearly understanding the AI guidance their child receives at school. Parents identified clearer guidelines and greater transparency about classroom AI use as key steps to increase their confidence, with 51% citing the need for clearer guidelines and 48% wanting more transparency.
The margin of error for the survey is ±3 percentage points for both samples.
IBM K-12 AI Leaders Fellowship
The IBM K-12 AI leaders fellowship is a professional learning initiative aimed at K-12 superintendents, education leaders, and educators, which will provide participants with AI learning and credentials through IBM’s free education program, IBM SkillsBuild. The inaugural cohort will launch this fall with up to 100 participants from the greater New York area, and IBM plans to expand the program to additional U.S. states in its first year, reaching hundreds of education leaders through a scalable cohort model.
The fellowship is designed to help education leaders develop the skills and knowledge needed to effectively integrate AI into their classrooms and schools, and to ensure that AI is used in a responsible and transparent manner. Participants will receive access to a curriculum and capstone projects focused on responsible AI practice and expert facilitators.
Looking Ahead
As the use of AI in K-12 schools continues to grow, it will be important to watch how schools and education leaders respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by this technology. The IBM K-12 AI leaders fellowship is an important step in this direction, and its success will likely depend on the ability of education leaders to work together to develop and implement effective strategies for AI integration and management.
The full study is available on IBM’s website, providing a detailed look at the current state of AI readiness in U.S. schools.
