A congressional panel April 1 explored the growing role of artificial intelligence in K-12 education, with lawmakers from both parties raising questions about its potential to personalize learning and its risks to student privacy, equity, and data security.

Why it Matters

AI tools are increasingly present in classrooms, helping with tutoring, grading, and administrative tasks. However, as technology adoption accelerates, some education leaders worry that schools lack the resources and guidance to use it safely and effectively.

  • 26% of U.S. teens say they’ve used ChatGPT for schoolwork—double the share in 2023, per Pew Research Center. 
  • 81% of school leaders say AI is impacting their systems, but only 10% feel prepared for implementation, according to ILO Group research.
What They’re Saying
  • “We suddenly have tools to address many longstanding challenges in new and powerful ways,” said Subcommittee Chair Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), emphasizing AI’s potential to support teachers and close learning gaps.
  • “The Department of Education plays a critical role in ensuring access and equity,” said Ranking Member Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), voicing concern about recent cuts to federal education programs and offices focused on edtech and civil rights.
The Debate

Some lawmakers and witnesses highlighted AI’s potential to improve instruction, support students with disabilities, and reduce teacher workloads. Others cautioned that without clear federal guidance, schools may struggle to navigate emerging risks—including data misuse, algorithmic bias, and widening disparities in access.

Where States Stand

With limited federal guidance, over half of U.S. states have developed their own AI guidelines for schools, according to TeachAI, a national coalition supporting safe, effective AI integration. But policymakers and experts are split on whether that’s a strength or a risk.

  • “Relying solely on state-level action for AI literacy and AI deployment is a recipe for fragmentation and missed opportunity,” said Erin Mote of InnovateEDU and the EdSafe AI Alliance. “We’ve seen this before, with a patchwork of student privacy and data laws that create market failures for industry, stifle startups, and limit our ability to harness technology to support educators, students, and families.”
  • “The federal role should be intentionally limited,” said Julia Rafal-Baer, CEO of ILO Group. “It should allow states and districts the flexibility and the autonomy to lead AI integration efforts that reflect the unique context. Given the rapidly evolving role and the nature of these technologies, decisions about AI literacy specifically should remain local rather than federally defined. […] Second, strengthening data security and privacy protections must be an immediate priority […] The federal government has an appropriate role to provide consistent cybersecurity and data guidance across all states and across all agencies. […] Federal policymakers could develop a comprehensive data privacy bill that supports effective policies and best practices […] broadly disseminated to states.”
What’s Next

Lawmakers signaled interest in continued hearings and potential legislation focused on AI in education, particularly around data privacy and cybersecurity. Despite differing views on the federal role, there was broad agreement that AI is here to stay and schools need support to use it responsibly.

This article is sourced from Whiteboard Notes, our weekly newsletter of the latest education policy and industry news read by thousands of education leaders, investors, grantmakers, and entrepreneurs. Subscribe here.