A new report from the Southern Regional Education Board aims to help educators and policymakers adopt AI tools thoughtfully and responsibly.   

As AI becomes part of modern life and work, educators face complex challenges along with the opportunities the technology brings. Guidance for the Use of AI in the K-12 Classroom offers ways to help schools leverage artificial intelligence for demanding and personalized learning and to free up teacher time for meaningful student interactions.  

The report offers schools guidance in preparing students as ethical users for an AI-driven future. It includes actionable strategies to deal with risks such as data privacy, AI bias, deepfakes and hallucinations.

It also addresses the importance of the human element in teaching.

“SREB’s guidance underscores that AI should be viewed as a partner—not a replacement—for teachers,” said SREB President Stephen L. Pruitt. “Our goal is to empower educators to use AI to strengthen learning and to equip them to safeguard student data and promote ethics.” 

Read the report 

Four pillars for better teaching, ethical learning

Designed for teachers, school and district leaders, education media, policymakers and technology developers, the guidance framework is built on four core pillars. 

1. Design cognitively demanding, AI-supported tasks 

AI tools can help teachers develop real-world tasks where students use AI as part of the creative and learning process, building critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

2. Streamline teacher planning and reduce administrative burden  

AI can help teachers with planning, grading and communication—giving them more time to focus on student engagement and success. 

3. Personalize student learning 

AI-powered platforms can help teachers differentiate support, automate real-time feedback and customize learning experiences to meet each student’s needs. 

4. Foster ethical and informed AI use among students  

The guide emphasizes critical media literacy and student ethics committees to teach students about bias, cheating, deepfakes and hallucinations. 

Teachers and school leaders are building their AI literacy as well, and the report includes a practical resource for the aptitudes, knowledge and skills educators need. 

“Teaching students to use AI ethically is crucial for shaping a future where technology serves humanity’s best interest,” said Leslie Eaves, the report’s author and SREB program director for project-based learning. “As educators, we can help students can master the technical skills and cultivate a sense of responsibility and critical thinking about the consequences and complexities of AI.” 

Coming soon: Vignettes of promising AI practices in classrooms, plus checklists for evaluating AI tools. 

Guidance for the Use of AI in the K-12 Classroom was developed with SREB’s Commission on AI in Education, which brings together teachers, professors and legislators from around the South with leaders in businesses and state workforce agencies. Follow SREB’s work on this priority topic at SREB.org/AI. 

Contact a member of SREB’s communications team for interviews or more information.

The Southern Regional Education Board is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that works with states and schools to improve education at every level, from early childhood through doctoral education and the workforce.