Teacher AI training expands rapidly

The number of U.S. school districts training teachers on generative artificial intelligence (AI) has more than doubled, rising from 23% in 2023 to 48% in 2024, according to RAND Corp. By fall 2025, nearly three-quarters of districts plan to offer AI training. While the increase is promising, RAND warns of stark equity gaps—67% of low-poverty districts have offered AI training compared to just 39% of high-poverty ones. Most districts design their own training modules, often using resources from tech companies and education nonprofits. Leaders report teachers’ initial resistance, largely due to fears of cheating and job disruption. Many districts use hands-on, play-based training to reduce anxiety and encourage exploration of tools like ChatGPT. However, inconsistent quality and limited expert guidance remain challenges. RAND urges more targeted funding for high-poverty districts and inter-district knowledge sharing to prevent AI adoption from widening existing inequalities in education. AI’s long-term role in teaching remains uncertain, but early efforts aim to build comfort and capacity.