Key Takeaways
- •Rep. Kevin Kiley (R, CA-3) noted that 60 percent of public school teachers use AI, but 70 percent report feeling unprepared to use the technology effectively in classrooms.
- •Michele Blatt (State Superintendent of Schools, West Virginia Department of Education) testified that West Virginia leads the nation in Microsoft Copilot training to help teachers automate lesson planning.
- •Rep. Summer Lee (D, PA-12) questioned Allyson Knox (Senior Director of Education and Workforce Policy, Microsoft) regarding concerns that student data could be accessed by immigration enforcement agencies.
- •Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-1) argued that dismantling the Department of Education’s technology office hinders rural schools, while Republicans emphasized state-led guidance over federal mandates for AI.
- •David Slykhuis (Dean, Dewar College of Education and Human Services, Valdosta State University) urged Congress to fund research to ensure AI tools improve student achievement without compromising privacy.
Read the full transcript
Starting at $350/mo
- Full hearing transcripts
- Speaker timestamps with video verification
- Organization & competitor mentions
- Same-day delivery
- Personalized summaries
30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
Hearing Analysis
Overview
The House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education held a hearing titled "Building an AI-Ready America: Teaching in the AI Age" on February 24, 2026. Chaired by Rep. Kevin Kiley (R, CA-3), the hearing examined the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 classrooms, focusing on the dual need to support teachers and protect students. Chairman Kiley opened by noting that while 60 percent of teachers use AI to save an average of six hours per week, 70 percent feel unprepared to use it effectively. Ranking Member Suzanne Bonamici (D, OR-1) emphasized the need for a human-centered approach, expressing concern that AI could exacerbate achievement gaps if not implemented equitably.
Key Testimony
The witness testimony highlighted both practical applications and systemic challenges. Michele Blatt, State Superintendent of Schools for the West Virginia Department of Education, testified that West Virginia leads the nation in teachers using the Microsoft Copilot Teach module. She emphasized that AI should supplement, not replace, the teacher-student relationship and noted that the state uses flexible guidance rather than rigid mandates to keep pace with technological changes. Aneesh Sohoni, CEO of Teach For America (TFA), shared that over 4,800 TFA teachers have received AI training. He argued that AI can personalize learning, citing a Houston teacher who used AI to translate complex texts for students speaking 52 different languages, resulting in a 20 percent increase in test scores.
Industry Impact
Dr. David Slykhuis, Dean at Valdosta State University and representative for the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), warned against repeating the mistakes of previous "screen-time" initiatives. He stressed that professional development requires significant time and funding, and he lamented the elimination of the Office of Educational Technology (OET) within the U.S. Department of Education (ED), which he argued left a vacuum of federal guidance. Allyson Knox, Senior Director at Microsoft, provided an industry perspective, recommending that Congress support teacher-led professional development, promote AI literacy across all grade levels, and fund research into AI’s impact on student achievement.
Overview
Policy discussions centered on several legislative frameworks. Rep. Bonamici discussed her proposed comprehensive human-centered framework for AI education, which focuses on professional development and evidence-based practices without federal mandates on pedagogy. Rep. Summer Lee (D, PA-12) advocated for the AI Civil Rights Act and the Eliminate Bias Act to address algorithmic racism and surveillance. The committee also discussed the upcoming reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), with Rep. Glenn Thompson (PA-15) and Mrs. Knox highlighting how AI tools like Immersive Reader and customized Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) support students with disabilities.
The hearing featured sharp partisan disagreement regarding the role of the federal government. Democrats, including Rep. Bonamici and Rep. Lee, criticized the Trump administration for dismantling the Department of Education and eliminating the OET, arguing this deprives rural and underserved schools of necessary guidance. Republicans, including Rep. Kiley and Rep. Tim Walberg (R, MI-5), focused on local flexibility and the potential for AI to reduce administrative burdens and combat teacher burnout.
Key Testimony
Several notable exchanges occurred during the questioning. Rep. Lee confronted Mrs. Knox regarding reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) uses Microsoft’s cloud and AI tools for surveillance, raising concerns about student data privacy. Mrs. Knox stated the issue was beyond her current purview but emphasized Microsoft’s commitment to "closed systems" in school districts. Rep. Thompson highlighted the "FarmBeats for Students" program, a collaboration between Microsoft and the National FFA Organization, which uses AI sensors to teach precision agriculture.
The following organizations were identified and discussed: - United States Department of Education (ED): Criticized by Democrats for dismantling offices and withholding funds; defended by Republicans regarding local control. - Microsoft Corporation: Praised for its Copilot and FarmBeats tools; questioned regarding its contracts with ICE and data privacy protocols. - Office of Educational Technology (OET): Highlighted by witnesses and Democrats as a vital but currently eliminated source of federal guidance. - Teach For America (TFA): Discussed as a leader in training novice teachers to use AI for personalized instruction. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): Mentioned regarding concerns that school surveillance data is being used for immigration enforcement. - American Federation of Teachers (AFT): Referenced for its "Common Sense Guardrails" report and its partnership in the National Academy for AI Instruction. - International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE): Cited as a source for technology standards in the absence of federal guidance. - Anthropic PBC: Mentioned regarding the value of humanities majors in the AI industry. - Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT): Cited for data on student AI use and the burden on teachers to detect AI-generated work. - Pennsylvania State University (Penn State): Recognized for developing the TILVA AI assistant for agriculture. - National FFA Organization (FFA): Highlighted for its partnership with Microsoft to bring AI into agricultural education. - Office for Civil Rights (OCR): Criticized for closing regional offices and dismissing discrimination cases. - Pew Research Center: Cited for data showing public concern over AI’s rapid advancement. - MagicSchool AI: Referenced as a specialized, "closed system" AI tool designed for educators. - Pima Community College: Mentioned as a model for workforce pipelines and AI literacy. - Institute of Education Sciences (IES): Identified as a necessary vehicle for funding research on AI effectiveness. - American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE): Represented by Dr. Slykhuis; focused on preparing future teachers for AI. - West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE): Represented by Ms. Blatt; discussed as a leader in state-level AI guidance. - RAND Corporation: Cited for research showing a lack of formal AI policies in most school districts. - Time Magazine: Referenced for its cover story on public anxiety regarding AI. - 4-H: Identified as a partner for promoting AI literacy in rural communities. - American Association of Community Colleges (AACC): Mentioned as a partner for teacher professional development. - Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO): Mentioned in the context of state-level educational leadership. - Valdosta State University: Academic affiliation of witness Dr. Slykhuis. - National Education Association (NEA): Cited regarding the digital divide and student access to technology. - Business Insider: Referenced for an article on AI and the humanities. - Impact Research: Cited for data on student use of AI without permission. - Walton Family Foundation: Cited for statistics on the doubling of teacher AI use. - Federal Trade Commission (FTC): Mentioned regarding enforcement actions against edtech companies for data misuse. - ASCD: Mentioned alongside ISTE regarding educational standards. - TeachAI: Recommended as a resource for school districts seeking AI policy toolkits. - OpenAI: Identified as a partner with AFT in the National Academy for AI Instruction. - National Technology Leadership Summit (NTLS): Represented by Dr. Slykhuis. - Prodigy Learning: Mentioned for its Minecraft-based AI safety modules used in West Virginia.
Overview
The hearing concluded with a consensus that while AI offers transformative potential for personalized learning and administrative efficiency, it requires robust professional development and clear ethical guardrails to ensure it supports rather than replaces the human element of teaching.
Transcript
[Gavel sounds.] The Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education will come to order. I note that a quorum is present. Without objection, the chair is authorized to call recess at any time. AI is transforming schools across America. According to a Walton Family Foundation report, 60 percent of U.S. public school teachers used an AI tool for their work during the 2024-2025 academic year. That number was up by nearly double from the previous year. With AI tools, educators can more easily perform a wide range of classroom functions like analyzing student performance, creating lesson plans, and personalizing curriculum to help students succeed. However, this rapid shift also presents major challenges. 70 percent of teachers admit they don't feel prepared to use AI effectively in their classrooms. Over 90 percent say they need additional support from their school leaders to leverage AI effectively in the classroom. As America's schools and classrooms are revolutionized by AI, it is imperative we understand the benefits and the challenges of this technology. So, let's start with the positives. AI has enormous potential. Potentially limitless potential to slash teachers' administrative and planning workload, freeing up more time for teaching kids. Teachers who use AI tools weekly estimate they save about six hours a week. Over a school year, this adds up to nearly six weeks of extra teaching time. In a world where thousands of teachers feel stressed or mounting burnout, AI can help teachers save time so that they could focus more on what they do best. We also know that teachers are generally pleased with the quality of work AI helps them produce. For instance, 74 percent report that AI helps them produce higher quality administrative work. Virtually none say that AI worsens their administrative work. It's hard to imagine another education technology that holds so much potential to make teachers' jobs easier. But this potential also comes with challenges. While a vast majority of teachers say AI tools can help in the classroom, an even larger swath of teachers, a staggering 85 percent, express concern about student use of AI. Of course, student misuse of AI will have direct consequences for teachers. According to a recent survey by Impact Research, nearly 40 percent of middle and high school students admit they've used AI without teacher's permission to complete assignments. And according to the Center for Democracy and Technology, 71 percent of teachers report that students' use of AI is creating an additional burden on them to discern if student work is AI-generated or not. Detecting AI-fueled cheating is exceptionally difficult in some cases, as existing tools are not always adequate and frequently produce false positives. Students aren't just using these tools to get homework done faster, by the way. Excessive or irresponsible use of AI as a crutch threatens to replace critical thinking, especially when used outside of teacher supervision. These problems have obvious consequences, as educators must fundamentally rethink how they design assessments, assign homework, and ensure academic integrity. Unfortunately, teachers report receiving insufficient guidance on how to handle these challenges. For example, according to a recent RAND survey, only 34 percent of teachers reported their school or district has policies on academic integrity and AI. That's why this hearing is so critical. Today we'll further illuminate the benefits and challenges of AI adoption for teachers. We'll hear testimony today about how teachers can be equipped with the tools they need, what support they need from their leadership, and how teachers can best work with students in an era when seemingly everyone is experimenting with AI and where AI advancements are only going to increase in the months and years to come. We'll also hear expert advice about what state and local leaders can do to ensure their teacher workforce is ready for the AI age. Artificial intelligence has unprecedented potential to aid teachers and enrich education. But that potential must be analyzed soberly with a clear view of the potential risks. And with that, I'll turn to the ranking member for an opening statement.
Read the full transcript
Starting at $350/mo
- Full hearing transcripts
- Speaker timestamps with video verification
- Organization & competitor mentions
- Same-day delivery
- Personalized summaries
30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans.
Not ready to subscribe?
Get a free daily digest with hearing summaries ranked by relevance.
Already have an account? Log in
