Teachers across the United States are saving an average of six hours weekly by using artificial intelligence tools for lesson planning, grading, and communication, according to a poll released today. The finding comes as educators increasingly turn to AI to manage workloads that have contributed to widespread burnout in the profession.
The poll found that 6 in 10 teachers in K-12 public schools used AI tools for their work over the past school year, with high school educators and early-career teachers reporting the heaviest usage. The time savings could help address a crisis in which teachers work an average of 54 hours per week, with more than 11 hours devoted to grading alone.
Federal Push for AI Integration
The survey results follow President Trump’s April executive order establishing an Artificial Intelligence Education Task Force to advance AI training for students, faculty, and staff in public schools. The order directs federal agencies to prioritize AI in funding programs and encourages partnerships with industry to develop educational resources.
“America’s youth need opportunities to cultivate the skills and understanding necessary to use and create the next generation of AI technology,” the executive order states. The Department of Education, National Science Foundation, and Department of Labor are tasked with ensuring educators have access to professional development focused on AI.
Classroom Applications
Math teacher Ana Sepúlveda at a dual language school in Dallas exemplifies the trend, using ChatGPT to create comprehensive lesson plans and translate materials into Spanish. The tool provided a detailed five-page geometry and soccer lesson plan, complete with conversation starters and project ideas.
AI applications extend beyond lesson planning to administrative tasks that consume up to 29 hours of teachers’ weekly schedules. According to an EdWeek Research Center survey of 990 educators, teachers are using AI to create quizzes and assignments, draft emails to parents, and individualize instruction.
Research suggests AI grading systems can reduce grading time by 80% while providing more detailed feedback. A study tracking teachers across diverse schools found that AI implementation redirected 15.4 hours per week to instructional planning and student support.
Workplace Transformation
The integration represents a broader shift in education, with 9 in 10 educators saying AI has changed teaching at least somewhat. About three-quarters predict AI will change the profession “a fair amount” or “a lot” over the next five years.
However, the transformation raises questions about equity and access. Forward-thinking schools are establishing AI competency programs for teachers, but ensuring these tools reach all students remains a challenge, particularly in underfunded districts.
Why it matters
This story signals a fundamental shift in American education as AI tools address the teacher burnout crisis affecting millions of students. The federal push and widespread adoption could reshape how education is delivered nationwide, but raises equity concerns for underfunded districts.