Educators Embrace AI and CTE as Tools for Preparing Students for the Future
According to the 2025 Savvas Educator Index from K-12 learning solutions provider Savvas Learning Company, Career and Technical Education (CTE) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are increasingly viewed by educators as vital tools in preparing students for life after high school. The annual national survey delivers an in-depth look at the various challenges and potential solutions educators across the U.S. predict for the forthcoming school year and beyond.
“Educators are embracing new opportunities for student success and are eager for innovative tools that enable more effective and relevant learning experiences,” says Bethlam Forsa, CEO of Savvas Learning Company. “This year’s Savvas Educator Index highlights the collective demand for solutions that meet the moment, including AI and CTE, without compromising enduring, essential skills such as critical thinking, communication and collaboration.”
AI in Classrooms: Building Real-World Skills
There is cautious optimism among educators about the implementation of AI in classrooms, with 66 percent planning to enhance AI use in the 2025-26 school year, a rise from 57 percent the previous year. Over half (56 percent) of those working in secondary education believe that understanding AI is “very” or “extremely” crucial to students’ future success.
However, this optimism is balanced with concern. Only 5 percent of educators are confident their students know how to use AI responsibly and critically, while a large majority (70 percent) state they have not received professional development to help students use AI for schoolwork. Furthermore, 43 percent of educators believe the current use of AI negatively impacts students’ development of enduring skills like communication and critical thinking, a figure that rises to 51 percent for grades 6 to 8 and 68 percent for upper school teachers.
This disparity between educators’ optimism about implementation and concern for students’ enduring skills paints a clear picture: educators desire AI tools with guardrails, implementation guides, and controls that focus on developing skills, rather than providing shortcuts.
CTE: A Leading Model for Future Workforce Readiness
According to the survey, CTE is the favored approach amongst educators for preparing students for life after high school, with AP courses falling behind. More than twice as many educators selected CTE (63 percent) as the best program for preparing students for post-high school success, compared to those who chose AP courses (26 percent).
Among educators who believe CTE programs aid students’ success post-high school, 87 percent cited job-ready skills and technical training, and 79 percent identified early exposure to career paths and interests as the key benefits students receive from participating in CTE programs during high school.
Dual Enrollment: A Critical Bridge to Success
The survey also noted the effectiveness of dual enrollment programs in helping students prepare for college and careers. For educators in schools offering these programs, the benefits are clear:
- 88 percent of educators highlighted the opportunity to earn coursework while in high school as a significant advantage.
- 75 percent cited lower tuition and 70 percent a smoother transition to postsecondary education as major benefits.
Alongside cost-saving, educators emphasized the importance of early exposure to college-level work and future career paths, aligning with the broader shift towards workforce preparation.
Relevance and Motivation: Key Factors in Student Success
Educators also raised concern over a persistent and systemic issue: student motivation. A significant 75 percent of educators surveyed identified a lack of motivation as the most significant challenge for the forthcoming school year. This lack of motivation is believed to be a major barrier to earning a living wage after high school (64 percent) and a hindrance to college success (45 percent).
These concerns are driving a demand for learning that connects to students’ lives and futures. Educators are increasingly pointing to the deliberate use of AI-powered tools and CTE offerings as ways to set students up for success beyond their K-12 education.
