AI Is Changing K-12 Education
Find out what IT leaders consider their greatest challenges, successes and priorities in AI implementation for the classroom.
AI investment is set to almost triple
Adopting AI in classrooms and administration has been shown to enhance productivity, speed up innovation, improve student satisfaction and increase operational efficiency. Education leaders are seeing this transformation and are expected to increase spending on AI by 2.6x this year.1
Knowing how to optimize your AI investments is key to making the greatest impact possible, from individual instruction to community-wide protections.
There’s an urgency for AI adoption in K-12
With AI technology evolving so rapidly, K-12 institutions must explore, adapt to and integrate AI innovations quickly to remain relevant and effective. Delaying institution-wide AI adoption could result in missed opportunities. But are schools ready?
of K-12 organizations have initiated at least one AI project2
of K-12 leaders already use AI at work3
of K-12 professionals say their organization’s infrastructure is only somewhat ready, or not ready at all, for AI2
Data quality matters
Data quality is a top concern for K-12 institutions. Successful AI applications rely on comprehensive high-quality data. Fragmented or incomplete data is a significant obstacle to the effectiveness of AI-driven initiatives. Only 29% of K-12 organizations have established a data governance framework.2
of K-12 organizations have had moderate to significant challenges with establishing enough data quality for AI2
of K-12 professionals are worried about data privacy and security risks4
of K-12 professionals are considering, or have already implemented, AI for data analysis2
Focus on increasing productivity and efficiency
K-12 institutions have found the greatest success with improvements in productivity and operational efficiency — from content creation to personalized instruction and automation of repetitive tasks. AI tools have proven especially valuable in institutions that face limitations in staff expertise and resources.
64% of K-12 professionals believe AI will reduce employee workloads2
91% of K-12 professionals are considering, or have already implemented, AI to automate administrative workflows2
Productivity is the #1 area with the greatest potential for positive impact from AI, according to EdTech leaders5
Maximize return on investment
Most industries struggle to demonstrate ROI on AI investments. But K-12 institutions have been able to establish some ROI due to the immediate and measurable efficiencies of AI in the classroom. Maximizing those gains often involves employing external support and expertise to help identify additional AI opportunities, provide accurate methods to measure returns and fill skills gaps.
of K-12 organizations have not seen any measurable ROI on their AI initiatives2
of K-12 organizations have seen less than 50% ROI from their AI initiatives, and just 26% have seen returns above that threshold2
of K-12 organizations surveyed have sought help from a third party for at least one AI use case2
Discover tailored K-12 AI solutions
CDW is here to help you take on your greatest challenges and achieve your goals with a comprehensive approach, including strategic planning, professional development, data management and implementation support.
Strategic AI planning and readiness assessment. Develop customized roadmaps for AI adoption and conduct assessments with readiness workshops to ensure a solid foundation for AI integration.
Professional development and training. Provide AI training programs for educators and administrators and offer continuous professional development opportunities.
Data management and governance. Deliver end-to-end solutions — from architecture and integration to governance, quality and compliance — to centralize and protect data.
AI implementation and support. Launch scalable AI pilot projects adaptable to the school’s evolving needs.
Sources:
1 IDC, “Finding High-Impact Opportunities for AI in Education,” March 2024
2 CDW, “The Pace of AI Evolution Demands a Sense of Urgency,” 2025 (plus raw data)
3 Microsoft, “AI in Education,” March 2024
4 DATIA K12, “2024 Report: AI in K12 Education,” October 2024
5 CoSN, “2024 State of EdTech District Leadership,” April 2024