What are principals using AI for?

Nearly 60% of school leaders now use the technology, with school communications and hiring among popular uses, a Rand report found.

Published Feb. 11, 2025

Education Dive

Anna Merod

A recent survey by the Rand Corporation, published on February 11, 2025, reveals that nearly 60% of school principals utilized artificial intelligence (AI) tools during the 2023-24 academic year. These AI applications primarily supported school communications, administrative tasks, teacher recruitment, evaluation and professional development, instructional enhancement, and job-related research.

Key Findings:

• Prevalence of AI Use: Approximately 58% of principals reported incorporating AI into their professional activities.

• Primary Applications:

  • School Communications: Drafting and refining messages to stakeholders.
  • Administrative Support: Streamlining tasks to improve operational efficiency.
  • Teacher Recruitment: Assisting in the hiring process to identify suitable candidates.
  • Evaluation and Professional Development: Enhancing assessment processes and supporting staff development initiatives.
  • Instructional Support: Demonstrating AI integration in lessons and bolstering teaching methodologies.
  • Research: Facilitating exploration of topics pertinent to their roles.

Guidance and Disparities:

Despite the growing adoption of AI, only 18% of principals indicated that their schools or districts provided guidance on AI usage. Notably, there is a disparity based on school demographics:

• Low-Poverty Schools: 25% received AI-related guidance.

• High-Poverty Schools: Only 13% received similar support.

This discrepancy suggests that principals in higher-poverty schools may be less equipped to implement AI tools effectively, potentially discouraging teachers in these institutions from utilizing AI. Factors contributing to this gap may include limited access to broadband, insufficient capacity to adopt new technologies, or prioritization of more immediate concerns over AI integration.

Recommendations:

To bridge these gaps and promote equitable AI integration across schools, the Rand report offers several recommendations:

1. Intentional AI Strategies: Districts and schools should develop deliberate strategies to leverage AI for enhancing instructional quality and student learning.

2. Collaborative Efforts: States, districts, and schools should collaborate to help both school leaders and teachers understand which AI tools have the most evidence of supporting effective instruction and student learning.

3. Equitable Access: Investors, developers, and decision-makers should consider making promising AI developments freely available, especially for educators and students in disadvantaged and higher-poverty areas.

By implementing these strategies, educational institutions can harness the potential of AI to improve teaching and learning outcomes while ensuring equitable access to technological advancements.

Original Article

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Prepared with the assistance of AI software

OpenAI. (2025). ChatGPT (4) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com