Why We Support AI in Schools

By Curriki · September 2026

School districts everywhere are racing to ban AI use; meanwhile, our non-profit organization has unapologetically made supporting AI our primary objective. We are spending all of our resources, both time and money, supporting transformative AI in schools.

Here are a few reasons why we think we’re correct in our unparalleled support for AI in schools.

The best tools we’ve seen in 20 years

In our 20+ years in EdTech, we’ve never seen better tools for students and teachers than those currently being built around AI. These software tools have deep algorithmic analysis of student progress, curated lesson content, differentiated instructional strategies, tutors meeting students where they are, and creative explosions with graphics/video, not to mention transformative tools to help teachers be more effective and efficient in their classrooms. Frankly, the new suite of AI learning software has put prior EdTech software to shame, and we’re only about three years into the AI era. Things are just getting started and will only improve from here.

What parents and teachers really want

Parents and teachers want academic progress for their students, and the data of the last decade has shown the opposite. Teachers want the tools and resources to make this progress a reality. AI-driven learning software is meeting and exceeding this need like never before. We aren’t talking about the gamified EdTech apps of the last decade; new AI-driven software really helps students progress academically and teachers meet their learning needs with differentiated content, accessible support, and complex data analytics. Teacher-facing AI tools help them to be more efficient with their time and resources, develop more creative lessons, and free up time to be present with children in the classroom.

When it comes to screen time, most parents aren’t upset about schools having the most innovative learning software; they’re upset about YouTube Shorts, TikTok, and social media addiction. Nobody is debating whether schools and parents need to be more thoughtful about how much time children spend on screens or how schools should select and deploy EdTech software, but blanket bans don’t apply this level of scrutiny, and as a result, students suffer when the best software is thrown out.

Older students: banning is easy, evolution is hard

When it comes to older students, thoughtfully approaching AI in schools becomes even more difficult. Once again, it’s easy to just use a blanket ban, pretend there will be compliance, and assume that the way we’ve taught for decades is still relevant, but this isn’t the reality we now face. If we’re honest with ourselves, we will realize that AI is embedded almost everywhere in technology, and it will only become more ubiquitous. You can pretend that your ban is effective and you can also try to police AI use by students, but both of these efforts will be in vain.

The only forward-thinking answer to address AI use by older students is a thoughtful embrace that is aligned with real curricular reform. This is how careers and industries are adapting, and we should be preparing our students in the same manner.

We believe that thoughtful AI use in high school and higher ed means asking more of students, expanding our outcomes, asking them to build more, to think bigger, to be innovators, and to leverage the force-multiplying aspects of AI so that students are capable of much more than we currently ask of them. This is the only path forward that makes sense. It is also the most difficult path forward. It requires us to reimagine everything about curriculum and pedagogy.

Banning is easy. Evolution is hard.

Where Curriki stands on AI in schools

So, if you’re a school or a district looking for a way to stop AI, ban screens, or gut EdTech from your classrooms, then Curriki probably doesn’t have much to offer you. On the other hand, if you want to thoughtfully employ the best software in your schools, embrace EdTech that makes a huge difference in student outcomes, ensure that your teachers have the best resources to transform learning, or want to completely rethink how you approach education in the AI era, then Curriki is here to help.

P.S. This was not written by AI, but even if it were, so what?