The Future of AI in Schools: What's At Stake & the Choices That Matter
Apr. 8, 2026
Artificial intelligence is no longer a future consideration for schools. It is already shaping how students learn, how teachers design instruction, and how systems define academic success and prepare learners to thrive in the AI age.
The challenge is not whether to respond. It is how.
In the absence of clear models, many systems are defaulting to extremes—restricting AI use entirely or adopting tools without a clear instructional strategy. The real work lies in something harder: making deliberate choices about how AI fits into teaching, learning, and the purpose of schooling itself.
Join us for our next free webinar when we’ll hear recommendations from the authors of two recently published landmark reports:
Rebecca Winthrop of the Brookings Institution on A new direction for students in an AI world: Prosper, prepare, protect, and
Amanda Bickerstaff of AI for Education, and Sari Factor of Imagine Learning, on Beyond the AI Inflection Point.
They will examine the decisions in front of education leaders and school communities right now— to move the field beyond reaction toward intentional design.
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of:
Where current AI decisions are already shaping classroom practice
How policy, instruction, and technology must align to avoid fragmentation
What it takes to move from short-term response to long-term strategy
Join us on Wednesday, April 8, at 1 pm ET/10 am PT.
Can’t make the time? A recording + resources will be emailed to all registrants.
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Amanda Bickerstaff
Amanda is the Founder and CEO of AI for Education. A former high school science teacher and EdTech executive with over 20 years of experience in the education sector, she has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that AI can offer. She is a frequent consultant, speaker, and writer on the topic of AI in education, leading workshops and professional learning across both K12 and Higher Ed. Amanda is committed to helping schools and teachers maximize their potential through the ethical and equitable adoption of AI.
Sari Factor
Sari’s vision and strategic direction guides Imagine Learning’s work to create effective, digitally enabled curriculum solutions. A lifelong teacher advocate, she works to ensure that every student has access to meaningful, educational experiences wherever learning takes place. Before joining Imagine Learning, Sari was a mathematics teacher and held leadership positions at several successful educational publishing and learning technology companies including Kaplan, McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin, and Everyday Learning Corporation.
Rebecca Winthrop is a leading global authority on education, the director of the Center for Universal Education at Brookings, co-author of The Disengaged Teen: Helping Kids Learn Better, Feel Better, and Live Better, and an adjunct professor at Georgetown University. She is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive in life, work, and as an engaged citizen. She leads cutting-edge research and initiatives aimed at transforming education systems around the world to better support children's learning and development
Rebecca Winthrop
Rebecca is a trusted advisor to both school communities and national and international organizations. Her expertise is sought by many, including parent networks, schools, district education leaders, governmental agencies, the United Nations, and Fortune 500 companies. She currently leads the Brookings Global Taskforce on AI in Education and her work is centered on developing and advocating for evidence-based strategies that bring people together—families, educators, policymakers, and companies—to help children maximize their potential.
She holds a PhD from Columbia University’s Teachers College, an MA from its School of International and Public Affairs, and a BA from Swarthmore College.