More Schools Are Providing AI Training for Teachers. Is It Any Good?

Source Domain: www.edweek.org

Most high school students report using generative artificial intelligence tools for schoolwork. Many teachers are using the technology to save time, communicate with parents, and brainstorm lesson plans. And President Donald Trump last April signed an executive order that called for embedding AI throughout K-12 education.

The order also called for “comprehensive AI training for educators,” and prioritizing discretionary grant funds for that purpose.

So, what is the state of professional development on AI for K-12 teachers?

Schools are making strides. In less than three years, the proportion of teachers reporting they’ve received at least some training on AI has grown from a minority to a clear majority.

But this movement is uneven at best—from the frequency of training to the type and depth of information imparted. Complicating matters, many teachers remain reluctant to learn about using AI in their work, or at least aren’t enthusiastic about it.

Schools steadily adopting PD on AI in recent years

The EdWeek Research Center has conducted national surveys in recent years in which it has asked K-12 teachers how much PD they’ve had on AI.

In October 2024, almost 60% responded that they’d received no such training. By the fall of 2025, the percentage of K-12 teachers who reported receiving no training on AI dropped to 50%, while 14% said they’d had multiple sessions and 5% reported receiving ongoing training.

This past winter, in a new survey, the percentage of teachers reporting that they’d received no training on using generative AI in the classroom stood at 42%, with 22% reporting that they’d received multiple training sessions and 9% reporting ongoing training on the subject.

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