Key points:
AI is a daily reality in the nation’s schools, and in Illinois, it shapes how students research, problem-solve, and create. Now, Teach Plus Illinois and the Illinois Digital Educators Alliance (IDEA) are releasing “From ‘Rules and Tools’ to Schools,” a follow-up to the 2024 report that first sounded the alarm on AI’s “Wild West” conditions in schools.
Built on a new statewide educator survey and the momentum of Senate Bill 1920, the legislation that directs the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to establish statewide AI guidance this summer, the report gives policymakers a clear, classroom-grounded roadmap for getting this right.
“In 2025, Illinois teacher leaders led the way on artificial intelligence by passing SB 1920 and directing the Illinois State Board of Education to issue state-level guidance on AI. Today, teacher leaders are providing the roadmap ISBE needs to ensure that guidance is grounded in classroom realities,” said Bill Curtin, Teach Plus Illinois Policy Director. “Because AI is always evolving, Illinois policy must be as adaptive as the technology itself, and teachers must have a permanent seat at the table to ensure AI technology enhances student learning and human connection rather than replacing it.”
Teach Plus Illinois and IDEA drew on a statewide survey conducted with a broad coalition of 15 organizations. While 58 percent of responding educators use AI for lesson planning and nearly half use it to tailor instruction to individual students, access to training remains uneven across the state. Teachers see real promise, particularly for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, but are clear that AI must never replace the human judgment and relationships at the heart of good teaching.
“Educators are navigating both the promise and the challenges of AI in real time. This report elevates what teachers are learning from their classrooms: AI can be a powerful tool for innovation and access, but only if it is implemented in ways that protect student thinking, academic integrity, and human connection,” said Kelly Torres, Bensenville history teacher and Illinois Policy Fellow who is a lead author of the report.
The findings are:
- Many educators are finding effective ways to use AI to enhance their work. Teachers are using AI to build more creative lessons, tailor content for multilingual learners and students with disabilities, give faster feedback on writing, and streamline administrative tasks.
- AI is changing schools faster than schools are developing guidance around using it well. Access to training has grown since 2024 but remains deeply uneven, with one in four educators reporting no AI professional development at all.
The recommendations for ISBE are:
- Provide concrete examples of best practices and inappropriate use. Teachers need specific, real-world examples of what responsible AI use looks like in an Illinois classroom.
- Leverage teacher leaders to support effective AI implementation. Trained teacher leaders can translate state guidance into everyday practice based on what students need.
- Establish a statewide framework for vetting AI tools. All schools, regardless of size or budget, should be able to choose products based on instructional value, student privacy, and equity.
- Position AI as a tool to support, not replace human connection. Guidance must be explicit that AI cannot substitute for the mentorship, relationships, and human judgment at the core of teaching.
“Education is changing at a fast pace right now, and it will be important for teachers to focus on the processes and critical thinking that accompany learning rather than the end result. It is critical that teachers are trained on how to make that shift, and ISBE is perfectly positioned to help all educators navigate AI and its uses for education. This report creates a solid picture of what is happening in schools right now, and it gives us an opportunity to learn and grow from educators from across the state,” said Dr. Traci Johnson, Executive Board President of Illinois Digital Educators Alliance.
“This report reflects exactly what we hear from educators: AI is already reshaping teaching and learning in classrooms across Illinois. The state’s educators and students are ready to embrace AI as a tool for innovation and they deserve guidance that keeps pace with its rapid advancement. AI can also reimagine what student engagement looks like and shows that when educators are supported and trusted, AI becomes a catalyst for the kind of future-ready learning every student deserves. This report gives policymakers honest, classroom-grounded insights into what’s working, what’s missing, and where opportunity exists for Illinois to become a national leader in responsible, equitable, human-centered AI,” said Scott Fraunheim, Chief Executive Officer of LEAP Innovations
Teach Plus aims to empower excellent, experienced, and diverse teachers to take leadership over key policy and practice issues that affect their students’ success. Since 2009, Teach Plus has developed thousands of teacher leaders across the country to exercise their leadership in shaping education policy and improving teaching and learning for students.
This press release originally appeared online.
eSchool Media staff cover education technology in all its aspects–from legislation and litigation, to best practices, to lessons learned and new products. First published in March of 1998 as a monthly print and digital newspaper, eSchool Media provides the news and information necessary to help K-20 decision-makers successfully use technology and innovation to transform schools and colleges and achieve their educational goals.
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