Overview
- The report, published Sept. 30, 2026, combines a nationally representative survey of teachers and principals from April–May 2025 with 31 in‑depth teen interviews done in April–June 2026.
- Survey respondents most often raised cheating as their main AI problem, with 74% of teachers and 69% of principals describing cheating‑related dilemmas.
- Researchers say a fixation on catching AI use is making students less visible to teachers and is prompting some students to hide AI use, feel shame, or deliberately scale back work to avoid false accusations.
- Fewer than one in five teachers work in schools with specific generative‑AI policies, and some districts have moved to restrict student chatbot use; the report warns that punitive rules risk driving AI use underground and widening enforcement and equity problems.
- Authors recommend shifting teachers from gatekeepers to coaches by using AI literacy lessons, open conversations about acceptable use, and co‑design of policies with students and teachers to preserve learning and trust.