AI in Education: Potential and Challenges Ahead
Key points:
According to PowerSchool’s 2025 National Educator Survey, AI tools to support and personalize student learning will have the greatest impact on students in the next few years.
The survey is based on more than 2,500 responses from classroom teachers, administrators, and educational leaders across the United States.
More than half of educators (54 percent) believe AI tools that support and personalize learning will be the most influential factor in improving student outcomes in the next two to four years.
Current Usage and Strategic Vision
Despite this optimism, the actual use of AI in classrooms remains limited – only 13 percent of teachers and 11 percent of school administrators report currently using AI to support workplace learning.
There is also a notable gap in strategic planning. Only 12 percent of educators strongly agree that their district has a clear vision of how AI should be integrated into the classroom, while 55 percent say they disagree.
The lack of professional development is another major barrier. Only 12 percent of educators strongly believe their district provides adequate AI-related training and support, indicating a disconnect between AI’s potential and the resources available to implement it effectively.
Education Challenges and Priorities
Top education challenges include supporting attendance (50 percent), student behavior interventions (42 percent), addressing staff vacancies (40 percent), and supporting basic learning needs (39 percent).
Educators’ top edtech priorities include communicating with families (54 percent), connecting data across systems (51 percent), personalizing student learning (47 percent), and addressing absenteeism (36 percent).
Different educator roles have different priorities. District administrators focus primarily on strategic budgeting and addressing staffing shortages. School administrators cite school attendance as their most pressing concern. Classroom teachers are primarily concerned with meeting students’ learning needs and managing classroom behavior.
Addressing Teacher Shortages and Burnout
When it comes to teacher shortages and burnout, almost half of district administrators (48 percent) see filling vacant teaching positions as the biggest challenge. Meanwhile, 37 percent of classroom teachers and 38 percent of school leaders say the mental health of staff and students is a major problem. Half of principals (50 percent) also say that staff morale and motivation are major issues that weigh heavily on them.
The Vision for Future Schools
U.S. educators envision the school of the future as one that offers dynamic and student-centered learning experiences. These include flexible, integrated learning environments; personalized, AI-powered instruction; project-based and interdisciplinary approaches; hands-on, immersive activities; competency and skills-based training; and flexible schedules that promote student autonomy and self-directed learning.
Laura Ascione is editorial director at eSchool Media. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s prestigious Philip Merrill College of Journalism.
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