White House order prioritizes AI in schools

Key points:

• The Trump administration is elevating AI programs in K-12 education
• The human edge in the AI era
• Report details uneven AI use among teachers, principals
• For more news on AI in education, visit eSN’s Digital Learning hub

A new executive order signed by President Trump takes aim at AI policies in K-12 education by “fostering interest and expertise in artificial intelligence (AI) technology from an early age to maintain America’s global dominance in this technological revolution for future generations.”

The order asserts that students need access to opportunities to grow their skills and understanding around AI use, and that early training in AI will “demystify” the technology, better preparing students to become competent members of the AI workforce.

Teacher preparation is key in this new priority, and the order notes that educators must have “the tools and knowledge to both train students about AI and utilize the technology in the classroom.”

To meet the goals outlined in the order, President Trump will establish the White House Task Force on AI Education, which will plan and help agencies implement a Presidential AI Challenge. The Presidential AI Challenge will encourage and spotlight student and educator achievements in AI and foster collaboration between government, academia, philanthropy, and industry to address national challenges with AI solutions.

The AI order is “a transparent attempt to open up schools to unaccountable tech companies, with wholly inadequate safeguards to protect our kids. It mandates that school districts spend their limited resources on unproven software, at the same time the administration is planning to slash districts’ overall funding. The administration has decided to ignore the trained professionals who will need to implement this mandate: America’s teachers. Instead, it is trying to impose AI from on high. It also appears to ignore the pressing need to enhance infrastructure, particularly broadband, in rural and other high-needs areas,” said AFT President Randi Weingarten in a statement.

“We want to use AI for good. While AI can be a helpful and important tool for educators and students in classrooms, we’ve instead seen systems that produce disinformation, impinge on privacy and tell inaccurate accounts of history,” she continued.

“Parents and teachers alike want students’ data and privacy protected, the ethical use of AI, and opportunities for their kids to safely engage with new technology. Instead, the president’s order prioritizes the interests of billionaire tech donors. It should be rejected in favor of what the research says works best: investing in classrooms and instruction designed by educators who work directly with students and who have the knowledge and expertise to meet their needs.”

“If the purpose of education is to prepare learners to be successful in their careers and positive contributors in their communities, we cannot responsibly serve that purpose without addressing AI in a meaningful way,” said Rob Buelow, general manager of education at Vector Solutions.

“The AI landscape is exploding and the education system is not keeping pace in either preparatory training or technology integrations. AI is now behind everything, from the information students consume in social media to the tools they’ll be expected to use in their jobs. From critical thinking to ethical decision-making to practical skill building, we need to do a better job setting students up for success as the world around them is rapidly changing. Students themselves are very clear that their classroom learning is not hitting the mark, and this is reinforced by employers who struggle with job candidates that have a clear deficiency in expected AI knowledge and skills.”