Published: September 12, 2025
School is back in session, and the emergence of AI in education is on the rise and rapidly advancing! AI powered resources in K-12 and higher education are already making an impact on teacher practice and student learning. AI is changing the landscape of education and AI Literacy is on the forefront of that change. “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” is an executive order that was signed by the President on April 23, 2025. The goal, “To ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution, providing our Nation’s youth with opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology.” This executive order fosters the integration of AI Literacy in K-12 and higher education institutions across America. The US Department of Education further issued guidelines that outline, “How AI may be used across key educational functions, articulates principles for the responsible use of AI, and affirms that such uses are allowable under existing federal education programs, provided they align with applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.”
Professional development and training will ensure that AI is used and taught with fidelity. The AFT, along with the United Federation of Teachers, recently partnered with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to create the National Academy for AI in Education. Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, called the project, “A model for responsible AI integration” in schools. “This partnership will not only help teachers learn to use AI—it gives them a voice in shaping how we build it.” This initiative will envelop “AI literacy, ethics, classroom enhancements and workflow applications.”
Although some teachers remain uncertain, many are starting to embrace AI, while encouraging responsible use of generative AI. ‘We Need to Reimagine What We Can Do’ – How Teachers Are Adapting to AI. Teachers are concerned AI use in the classroom will promote cheating and curb student creativity. Incorporating ethical values in daily AI lessons will foster individual creativity and student ownership of their learning. National, state and local AI frameworks are currently being developed that will include guidelines for the ethical uses of AI in education.
Classrooms across the nation are filled with diverse learners and personalized learning can be achieved seamlessly through AI. Using AI tools in the classroom will enable teachers to spend more time connecting with their students and less time on administrative tasks. AI tools are data driven and track student progress to provide instant feedback. Teachers can quickly identify at-risk and high performing students, allowing them to customize their lessons according to personal learning goals.
The goal of AI in education is not to replace teachers but to enhance the curriculum and focus on student centered learning, where both teachers and students use AI as a tool to promote deeper learning. According to a recent article in Edtech, “Teachers shift from being information providers to facilitator guides—helping students navigate and critically engage with learning, appropriately using AI tools, and providing the emotional and human connection that often helps students thrive.” Soft skills, such as critical thinking, problem-solving, effective communication, emotional intelligence, creativity and ethical reasoning are skills that AI can not teach. In this new age of AI, teachers play a critical role in student learning and social-emotional development.
As Artificial Intelligence is emerging in classrooms across America, Prep Academy Tutors is working on strategies to help your child assimilate to the AI framework. As schools navigate this new initiative, we remain steadfast in our core teaching values. We will continue to provide personalized lessons, guidance and foster the human connection that all students need to thrive and have a successful academic year!
Written by our staff author and teacher, Maryann Moriarty. Maryann has 17 years of teaching experience in New York City and was a contributing author at the Educator’s Room.