I Have Bigger Fish to Fry: Why K12 Education is Not Thinking About AI

Written By: Maurie Beasley, M.Ed. (Edited by Jim Beasley)

In the big ‘ol state of Texas, where the future of our children is crafted in the classrooms of K12 schools, administrators and teachers find themselves grappling with a problem. Despite the buzz surrounding artificial intelligence (AI) and its potential to “revolutionize” education, our schools remain on the edge of this technological leap and are very hesitant to jump. The reason is not a lack of interest or disbelief in AI’s potential but a more pressing plethora (that word is for Raychel) of challenges that demand our daily attention and exhaust our limited resources.

Did you know that since 2019, public K12 education in Texas has not seen a funding increase? Actually, State and local education funding reached a peak during the 2019–20 school year and has since declined. This financial stagnation is occurring as we face a multitude of escalating challenges. These challenges include but are in no way limited to, chronic absenteeism, widespread student mental health issues, critical staff shortages, rampant classroom behavior issues, a palpable sense of apathy for education in students, and even, I dare say, hatred towards education among parents and policymakers. These problems are compounded by the requirement to meet numerous unfunded State of Texas mandates, like new security requirements, further depleting our already overstretched budgets.

The Robin Hood plan, designed to equalize property wealth among school districts, deepens the financial difficulty and has also contributed to financial disparities and frustrations among many. Meanwhile, the costs of nearly everything continue to rise, exacerbating the squeeze on our flat or declining budgets. In this environment, prioritizing AI education and adoption seems foolish when faced with our immediate realities.

The stark truth is that, against these pressing challenges, the future of public education is balancing on a precipice that, if not addressed, will cease to exist. Though potentially transformative, the benefits of AI integration into K12 education appear distant and speculative. Our current focus is on keeping our heads above water, ensuring our students’ safety and mental well-being, and simply keeping our schools staffed and our doors open.

However, let’s take a minute to look beyond the obvious and educate ourselves on the promise of AI in education, particularly for addressing some of our most persistent challenges. We may be looking at what could save public education. So, let’s look at a few of the pressing issues I mentioned above and think about how AI may help.

Chronic absenteeism: AI-driven analytics can play a crucial role in identifying and understanding the complex factors contributing to chronic absenteeism among students. By analyzing vast amounts of data, these systems can uncover hidden patterns and correlations that might not be evident to human observers. This deep insight enables educators to develop targeted interventions specifically designed to address the root causes of absenteeism, tailoring their approaches to the unique circumstances of each student or group of students. A unique circumstance in a district where I worked was what is known as “stock show” day. Over time, we noted that the absenteeism rate on the Friday of the stock show was substantial (something an AI would have caught immediately); therefore, we now take a school holiday on these days so it does not affect our state reporting numbers.

Student Mental Health Issues: AI holds significant promise in addressing student mental health by leveraging tools such as language translation, differentiation, and positive feedback mechanisms. Language translation capabilities of AI can bridge communication gaps for students who are non-native speakers or those with hearing impairments, ensuring they receive information in a format that is most accessible and understandable to them. This inclusivity fosters a sense of belonging and reduces feelings of isolation, which are critical factors in promoting mental well-being. Using AI to help with differentiation can tailor educational content and methods to meet students’ varied learning needs. By recognizing and adapting to individual learning styles, AI can help reduce the frustration and anxiety associated with learning, making education a more positive experience. AI systems can be designed to provide immediate and personalized positive feedback to students, reinforcing their achievements and progress. This continuous encouragement can boost self-esteem and motivation, which are vital components of a healthy mental state. Together, these AI applications enhance the learning experience and play a crucial role in supporting students’ mental health by creating a more inclusive, understanding, and encouraging educational environment.

Apathetic students: Having been in a classroom for over ten years and from a school counselor and then administrator point of view, I have always said that I know how to deal with students who love school (that is an easy one). I know how to deal with a student who hates school (harder to deal with, but you can usually find an underlying issue causing this). But, I have never been well equipped to deal with a student that is just apathetic. Maybe AI can help. Personalized learning, another facet of AI’s application in education, promises to revolutionize how students engage with educational content. Unlike one-size-fits-all teaching methods, AI-powered personalized learning adapts to each student’s individual learning pace, preferences, and needs. This can significantly enhance student engagement by presenting materials that resonate with them, thereby addressing issues of apathy and disinterest.

Staff Shortages: Automating routine and time-consuming tasks can significantly reduce the bureaucratic overhead educational institutions face. This frees up valuable resources and allows educators and administrators to devote more time and energy to addressing the direct educational needs of students. One example that immediately comes to mind is the required State Cyber Security Plan that my husband used AI to write in a fraction of the time it would typically take, allowing him to place a check in the box of an unfunded mandate. This efficiency fulfilled a necessary regulatory requirement and demonstrated how AI can alleviate the burden of unfunded mandates, allowing educational institutions to focus more on their core mission of teaching and learning.

In conclusion, while the immediate embrace of AI in Texas’s K12 education might be hampered by a host of urgent challenges and financial difficulties, its potential benefits should lead us to make that jump. As we continue to push forward and stay steadfast in doing what is necessary, our priority remains clear: address the fundamental needs of our students and teachers. Yet, we hope these critical issues will be resolved in time to save public education. Integrating AI into our educational practices will become feasible and play a pivotal role in enhancing the learning experience for all students.