Advancing AI in Education

April 28, 2025

On April 23, 2025, the President issued an executive order to support AI in education. Key components of the executive order align with what we are learning with educators: GenAI’s connection to innovation, investment in educators, encouragement of public–private partnership, and purposeful integration of AI into data systems.

GenAI for Innovation

The order describes GenAI’s potential to stoke creativity, curiosity, and innovation. As partners with the Department of Education–funded AmplifyGAIN National AI R&D Center, we’re studying how math and science teachers are using GenAI in math and science classrooms. The most transformative lessons encourage students to use GenAI to drive their own learning experiences, and the lessons include time for reflection and discussion on the outputs of the model. We are observing that teachers skilled at facilitating the use of GenAI increase opportunities for agency and bolster motivation, engagement, and persistence. By identifying and understanding best practices, our research will provide actionable strategies to foster innovative classroom uses of AI at scale.

Investment in Educators

Educational leaders, teachers, and preservice instructors all need strong support to use AI for productivity and efficiency without compromising learning. Our research with educators across the adoption spectrum reveals a strong need for collaborative, cohesive, and content-focused professional learning. Effective professional learning empowers educators to use GenAI to guide learners in using the technology as a critical thinking partner. We also know that implementing new technologies requires a systems-based approach that also includes school leadership, families, and communities. Effective education transformations spread when whole systems are engaged—an approach that defines our work on the Digital Fluency Team.

Public–Private Partnership

WestEd has a long history of partnering with edtech providers to develop products and strategies that support educators’ professional learning, improve instruction, and result in greater learning opportunities for children and adults. Through partnership, edtech developers benefit from deep expertise about teaching, learning sciences, and pragmatic constraints of school systems. At the same time, teachers, learners, and school systems gain access to new tools to catalyze improvement. As edtech continues to move into the AI era, collaborations that include technology developers, practitioners, and experienced educational researchers are the most likely to yield usable, engaging, and effective products.

Navigating the Intersection Between AI and Data Systems

Public agencies are increasingly turning to GenAI technologies to enhance knowledge management, streamline operations, and reveal new insights derived from integrated data system data. Harnessing the potential of AI while safeguarding against the misuse of sensitive data, inaccurate conclusions, or unfair biases requires a robust infrastructure with strict guidelines, quality/structured data, and governance. The Data Integration Support Center (DISC) at WestEd helps organizations prepare for and implement AI, offering a full slate of technical assistance services to public agencies free of cost.

Work With Us to Unlock Opportunities for Every Learner

Across numerous projects, we help integrate AI into education thoughtfully while remaining grounded in real classroom needs. At WestEd, we are committed to continuing to learn alongside the field; sharing what we’re observing; and contributing to solutions that are practical, fair, and future oriented. We’re encouraged by the increased attention to AI literacy in education and aim to engage AI in ways that unlock opportunity for every learner.

Navigate the promise and reality of AI with WestEd as your trusted partner.

Contact us.