EdReports, a nonprofit that reviews K–12 educational materials, has started investigating the evidence behind AI features that edtech vendors are adding to instructional software. The organization found that many vendors claim their AI tools are educationally effective, but proof is often lacking or unclear.
Some AI tools let teachers review student-facing content first; others deliver it in real time. EdReports CEO Dr. Lewis Ferebee, former chancellor of DC Public Schools, notes that districts often bear the responsibility—and cost—of verifying these products themselves.
What this means for school purchasing decisions
- Districts should ask vendors for evidence of effectiveness before adoption, not assume AI tools are automatically better than traditional materials.
- Schools need clarity on whether AI-generated content is reviewed by teachers before students see it, as content moderation varies by product.
- The boundary between "core" and "supplemental" classroom materials is blurring as AI integrates into both, making evaluation more complex.
Questions to raise with your child's school
- Ask whether the school has reviewed evidence of effectiveness before adopting any new AI-powered instructional tool.
- Find out if AI-generated lessons are teacher-reviewed before students access them, or delivered in real time without screening.