Black Students Are Leading in AI Use. Their Teachers Aren’t Getting Trained

March 11, 2026

Black K-12 students are among the most frequent users of AI tools for schoolwork, yet their teachers receive significantly less AI training compared to educators at predominantly white schools. Federal data reveals that only 60% of schools serving mostly students of color provide AI training to staff, versus 75% at predominantly white schools. This disparity stems from resource constraints, competing priorities around meeting state standards, and differences in parental advocacy for AI policies.

Who is affected

Black K-12 students who are using AI tools for schoolwork
Teachers and teaching staff at schools serving mostly students of color
School districts that primarily serve students of color
Parents in underfunded school systems
Allen J. Antoine Jr., director for Computer Science Education at University of Texas at Austin
Bree Dusseault, researcher at Arizona State University
American Federation of Teachers union members
Educators in well-funded suburban districts

What action is being taken

The American Federation of Teachers partnered with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic to launch a National Academy for AI Instruction in July 2025 to train teachers
Google partnered with the International Society for Technology in Education and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development to offer AI training to millions of teachers as part of a three-year initiative (launched in February)
Some individual teachers in underfunded schools are pursuing AI training on their own accord
Democrats and Republicans in Congress are considering funding professional development programs for schools seeking to use AI in lessons (discussed in a Congressional hearing last week)

Why it matters

This disparity in AI training creates a dangerous disconnect between how Black students learn and how their schools can support them. Without proper teacher guidance, students may misuse AI tools—relying on chatbots to complete entire assignments rather than using them appropriately for brainstorming or editing—which could lead to disciplinary consequences for cheating. The lack of training perpetuates existing educational inequities along racial and socioeconomic lines, potentially widening the digital divide. If teachers cannot effectively guide students in responsible AI use, an entire generation of Black students may lack the AI literacy skills needed for future academic and professional success. This issue reflects broader systemic problems where underfunded schools serving students of color face resource constraints that prevent them from prioritizing emerging educational technologies.

What's next

Congress may provide funding for professional development programs for schools seeking to use AI in lessons
Google's three-year AI training initiative with ISTE and ASCD will continue rolling out to millions of teachers
Researchers are advocating for district-level AI guidance documents to create standardized approaches for AI use in classrooms
Federal-level guidance may be developed to create a more structured approach to AI training in schools

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint