Key findings from the Speak Up Research Project — a nationally representative study of students, educators, and parents on Generative AI in learning.
Across all stakeholder groups, there is strong and growing appetite for AI tools in education — yet the market remains significantly undersupported. This is a defining moment for vendors.
of students say access to AI tools should be included if designing a new school — ranking it alongside collaboration tools and teacher-communication platforms.
of parents say AI use at school can help their child develop college and workplace skills needed for future success.
of teachers are somewhat or very interested in using GenAI tools in their classroom — but only 15% say they are getting adequate professional development.
of parents support students using AI in school. Students and educators agree — yet clear, district-supported guidance and tooling is still largely absent.
Successful vendor positioning requires speaking to the distinct needs, fears, and motivations of each group. Here's what the data says.
The data reveals a consistent pattern: demand is high, but support infrastructure is critically weak. These gaps are direct product and service opportunities.
⚡ The Policy Vacuum: Only 31% of school districts had a formal AI policy as of December 2024 (U.S. Dept. of Education). With 69% of teachers saying clear district guidelines are a top priority, vendors who provide policy frameworks, compliance tools, or guided implementation programs have an immediate and underserved market.
"It is important to evolve with the times. In the real-world AI will be and is used on a daily basis and getting to know how to handle and take in the information given by AI is an important life skill. Starting now at school helps us integrate those skills from early on."— Grade 10 Student, 2024–25 Speak Up Survey
These concerns represent both real barriers to adoption and product design priorities. Vendors who address them head-on will earn trust and differentiate in a crowded market.
Students are ahead of their teachers in AI familiarity and usage. Products that start with student-centered design — not top-down administration — will see faster organic adoption. Students learn by doing; build tools with low barriers to experimentation.
The single most underserved need in the market is teacher professional development and confidence-building. 76% want it, only 15% have it. Vendors who bundle PD, onboarding, and ongoing support will win district-level contracts.
Data privacy, academic integrity, and misinformation are top concerns across all groups. Vendors who lead with transparent data practices, academic integrity tools, and AI-literacy resources will overcome the most significant adoption barriers.
Use these data-backed opportunities to sharpen your go-to-market strategy, product roadmap, and sales conversations.
Build PD programs, implementation guides, and training resources into your core offering — not as an add-on. With only 15% of teachers receiving adequate district support, your PD capability is a primary purchasing driver for administrators.
Only 31% of districts have a formal AI policy. Offer policy templates, compliance frameworks, or implementation roadmaps as part of your sales package. Helping administrators feel confident in rollout removes a critical barrier to purchase.
88% of teachers and 80% of parents are concerned about cheating. Products that help define appropriate AI use, detect misuse, or guide students toward responsible AI engagement will directly address the market's #1 concern.
64% of parents are very concerned about their child's data privacy. Lead with FERPA compliance, transparent data practices, and privacy certifications in all marketing materials — especially when targeting parent and school board audiences.
Students' top desired use cases are brainstorming (56%), analyzing class notes (52%), getting writing feedback (52%), and outside-school tutoring access (45%). Build features that directly serve these needs to drive authentic student adoption.
70% of parents are unfamiliar with their school's AI policies, and 43% have never discussed AI with their children. Tools that facilitate parent communication, AI-literacy resources for families, or transparent reporting dashboards address an unmet need.
of grades 6–12 students say they are interested in what they're learning in school. AI tools that increase personalization and engagement are being positioned as a direct solution — giving vendors a compelling educational ROI argument.
believe most district leadership does not know enough about AI to make good decisions. Vendors who offer leadership briefings, board presentations, and decision-maker education programs can directly influence purchasing authority.
believe GenAI tools have the potential to positively impact K–12 instruction. And 45% say AI can improve student agency over their own learning. The conditions for adoption are favorable — the market needs vendors to close the implementation gap.