AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – A new state audit finds more than half of Georgia teachers are using artificial intelligence tools in the classroom as educators prepare for the next school year.
Liz McKibben, technology director at Episcopal Day School, a private K-12 school, says AI is here to stay.
“It’s not going away, but it’s a tool that needs to be managed,” McKibben said.
He said the benefits for teachers are clear, as they can use AI tools to save time creating assessments and tailoring lesson plans for students.
According to the audit, teachers most commonly use AI to plan and prepare instruction, create materials for students with different learning needs, and structure assignments and assessments. The audit found that 84% of teachers using AI said it helped them save time, and 89% rated the overall impact of AI on their teaching practices positively.
For students, McKibben says, AI is a threat. AI can help with learning, but some students use it to avoid learning.
“Skipping learning effort is both appealing to students and a danger to actual learning,” she says.
He acknowledged that students can use AI to try to cheat, but said the technology has limitations.
“It can help them, but it can’t replace them,” McKibben said. “They’re individual learners with personal ideas, and we want that voice. We want those voices.”
Deidre Sears, a parent and substitute teacher at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School, provided guidance to the families.
“I think for parents, it’s about getting engaged,” Sears said. “Encourage your kids to let the AI help them brainstorm, study, and understand topics. But don’t let the AI do the talking.”
The audit found that teachers in Georgia’s wealthiest school districts were far more likely to receive training on how to handle AI in the classroom. In school districts where 50% to 75% of students live in poverty, about 37% of teachers said they were not receiving instruction. In the highest-poverty districts (where 75% to 100% of students are qualified), about 35% of teachers reported receiving no training or instruction. In contrast, only 17% of teachers in the lowest-poverty districts reported the same.
McKibben said professional development on AI should be a priority.
“Training is absolutely necessary,” she said. “It’s necessary and valuable. It should be near the top of every school district’s PD platform.”
Currently, there is no state law regulating the use of AI in classrooms in Georgia, but many school districts have implemented their own policies.
Copyright 2026 WRDW/WAGT. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.
