A recent Gallup poll found that 30% of teachers are using AI on a weekly basis. These tools are saving them the equivalent of “six weeks a year.”
According to data from the 2024-2025 school year, 60% of K-12 teachers reported using some form of AI tool in their work. These tools are most commonly used to create worksheets, personalize material to students’ needs, and prepare lessons.
The study, conducted by the Walton Foundation alongside Gallup from March 18 to April 11, sampled 2,232 teachers in public K-12 schools in the United States. Researchers estimated the time saved as a half-hour or more depending on the task. The report referred to this time saved as an “AI dividend.” Teachers reinvest this time in more personalized instruction, deeper student feedback, and better parent communication.
“Weekly AI users report reclaiming nearly six hours per week — equivalent to six weeks per year — which they reinvest in more personalized instruction, deeper student feedback, and better parent communication,” the study found. Educators reported that using AI made their work better, particularly in administrative tasks (74%) and grading (57%). This positive impact was also supported by student feedback.
However, 16% of teachers felt AI negatively impacted their work product. AI tools also help bridge existing gaps in education. “57% of teachers agree that AI will improve the accessibility of learning materials for students with disabilities,” the report stated.
Special education teachers were even more likely to see this benefit (65%). These benefits were more pronounced for regular users.
Teachers save time with AI tools
Teachers who used AI tools less than weekly saw a significant drop-off in time saved compared to more active users. Despite these advantages, the adoption of AI in schools is still relatively new. The research found that 40% of teachers don’t use AI at all.
Just 19% of them said their school has an AI policy in place. Adoption also varied by school age. High school teachers were some of the heaviest users of AI but also among those most likely to oppose its use.
“As AI tools grow more embedded in education, both teachers and students will need the training and support to use them effectively,” the report noted. Having an AI policy helps schools increase the amount of time saved. However, both teachers and Gen Z students expressed concerns about how using AI could impact their critical thinking skills.
This concern is somewhat supported by a recent MIT study. The study found that while AI reduces the friction involved in answering questions, it may also diminish users’ inclination to critically evaluate its output. The findings come at a time when educators and administrators are grappling with the rapid development and integration of AI technology in education since the launch of ChatGPT in late 2022.
Despite some challenges, the report remains optimistic about AI’s potential positive impact on education. “If teachers have the resources they need to effectively integrate AI into their classrooms, it could significantly improve educational outcomes,” the report concluded.
Senior Software Engineer with a passion for building practical, user-centric applications. He specializes in full-stack development with a strong focus on crafting elegant, performant interfaces and scalable backend solutions. With experience leading teams and delivering robust, end-to-end products, he thrives on solving complex problems through clean and efficient code.
