For most administrators and educators, a “normal” school year is a myth. Every semester brings a new set of challenges.
We educate hundreds, sometimes thousands, of students with diverse needs. We navigate shifting state and local requirements. We are striving to deliver impactful instruction while stretching every dollar a little further than last year.
Yet amid these challenges, something remarkable emerged during the start of the 2025-2026 school year: educators embraced AI to elevate teaching and learning, expanding what is possible while preserving what matters most in the classroom.
Based on what we have learned so far, here are five AI predictions that will define the spring semester:
1. Human connection at the center of AI
One of the biggest AI mistakes early on was launching tools that pushed students down differentiated pathways without teachers in the loop, leading to biased outputs, inconsistent quality, and misalignment with classroom goals.
This year marked the start of an important reset. The schools that saw success grounded their AI use in strong classroom curriculum, thoughtful scaffolding, and teacher direction. Educators want to remain central to the learning process. They do not want AI interacting with students without their insight, oversight, or approval.
In 2026, teachers will continue championing solutions that make them more efficient, extend their impact, and respect their expertise. And they will expect edtech companies to treat them as true partners in what they build next.
2. Greater ownership of data and accountability
Since ESSA passed in 2015, accountability has shifted away from the federal level and closer to state and local control. While DOE still provides oversight and requires annual assessments and public reporting, each state sets its own policies for how to measure and improve student outcomes. Districts have more responsibility than ever to understand student performance in real time.
Leaders need data they can trust and act on quickly. AI-driven administrative tools that bring together immediate insights, assessment results, and progress monitoring will help districts clearly see what is working and where support is needed. This is not about compliance; it is about giving educators the information they need to help students grow.
3. Solutions that create the most complete student profile
As AI becomes more embedded in daily school operations, districts are realizing that the quality of its insights is only as strong as the data behind them.
This fall, we saw more districts shift toward AI platforms that bring all data together to create a truly comprehensive student profile. When assessments, behavior trends, cognitive insights, and classroom performance live in one place, teachers are equipped with a whole-child view, helping them identify problems and provide immediate, actionable insights that strengthen instruction.
4. A sharper look at digital resources
Defining success is essential as districts reexamine their tech budgets after the loss of ESSER funding. Leaders must articulate what success looks like, not just in terms of improved scores or usage rates, but in the day-to-day experience of teaching and learning.
When districts have a shared vision, evaluating whether a tool is delivering meaningful value becomes far easier.
Districts making steady progress integrate AI across assessment platforms, SIS data, and curriculum resources, enabling them to see which solutions are driving outcomes and which are no longer worth the investment. Equally important is listening to the teachers, students, and families who use these tools because their firsthand experiences often reveal impact, or the absence of it, that data alone cannot capture.
5. A key lever in addressing chronic absenteeism
Last year, chronic absenteeism rose 50% compared to pre-pandemic levels. Between challenges in the home, a rise in mental health issues, and disengagement from school, the reasons behind the crisis are complex and often hidden from teachers and staff.
School districts have discovered innovative new ways to identify kids most at risk of absenteeism. AI-driven student assessment solutions embedded with early warning systems enabled educators to view attendance and academic data side by side and spot patterns in student progress.
These insights served as conversation starters, empowering teachers and intervention specialists to partner with families on solutions to address barriers to success.
Looking ahead
Understandably, educators were cautious about AI early on. But this year, we saw a shift. More educators began to recognize that AI is not here to replace the human side of teaching; it is here to strengthen and elevate the work teachers already do.
When districts combine strong instruction, thoughtful use of technology, and educators’ expertise, challenges become real opportunities. If this fall is any indication, the work happening now has the potential to turn the beginning of the year’s uncertainty into end-of-year success stories.
