In a nationally representative survey of American youth, an increasing proportion of middle school, high school, and college students report using artificial intelligence (AI) to help with homework by 2025. At the same time, these students report significant ambiguity about how to navigate the growing use of AI in school settings. The fact that most students using AI are concerned about its impact should be a call to action for educators.
To help school principals, district superintendents, and state Department of Education leaders create or revise guidance on the use of AI allowed for students in academic work, the authors created the most comprehensive set of questions to date about student AI use to learn how and why youth use AI for school-related purposes.
This report presents findings from a selection of 1,214 youth ages 12 to 29 who responded to the Rand University American Youth Commission’s December 2025 survey. Long-term trends for some repeated questions from previous surveys (February 2025 and May 2025) are also shown, as well as results by grade level and gender.
Based on this analysis, the authors recommend ways schools can help ensure that students’ use of AI enhances, rather than replaces, the learning process.
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