The AI Playbook for District Leaders

97% of superintendents agree that K-12 schools have a responsibility to teach students how to use AI effectively and ethically. Unfortunately, less than a third of districts are prepared to educate their students about AI.

Through analysis of over 100 districts’ AI implementation plans, EAB surfaced three primary pitfalls in districts’ attempts to develop AI-responsive teaching and learning:

1. Districts aren’t communicating clear AI guidance to teachers, students, and the broader district community, failing to ensure everyone is on the same page about when and how to use AI.
2. Districts do not provide teachers with enough AI training, leaving them without the time and resources to learn how AI works.
3. Districts may mistakenly approach AI adoption like any other edtech adoption process. This new technology lacks established best practices and is rapidly evolving, so districts can’t leave it up to chance that teachers and students will identify AI’s ever-changing risks and opportunities.

To address these pitfalls head-on, EAB created The AI Playbook for District Leaders. This playbook breaks down three priorities—and the actions every district should take to accomplish each—that every district should have to address AI today and prepare for the future.