Requests for AI tools by U.S. public school teachers have surged more than 200% since the 2022-23 school year, with 86% of those requests aimed at serving students with disabilities or English language learners, according to data from DonorsChoose. The pattern shows educators are bypassing top-down debates over cheating and screen time to deploy AI in ways that directly address longstanding equity gaps.
"I have an unusual window into what's happening in classrooms," said Alix Guerrier, CEO of DonorsChoose, which provides resources in 90% of U.S. public schools. Each year, 200,000 teachers post requests on the site. The surge in AI requests is not about growth alone; it is about purpose.
What teachers are requesting
In a middle school near Atlanta, a teacher requested AI-powered translation pens that scan text and read it aloud in more than 100 languages. For students learning English or struggling with reading, a $90 device turns a frustrating school day into one where they can participate. DonorsChoose has provided hundreds of these pens and over 1,500 other translation devices.
An elementary STEM teacher in Chicago used AI to adapt lesson materials on the spot when a student struggled to grasp a concept. In Miami, a middle school math teacher asked for software that offers students immediate, constructive feedback-boosting confidence rather than deflating it. Another Miami computer science teacher helps students train robots to recognize images, sparking discussions about ethics and how human input shapes AI.
In Detroit, high school educator Carrie Russell uses AI tools to give each student a personalized tutor. She also mentors colleagues on integrating AI into student learning, a task made easier with structured resources like the AI Learning Path for Teachers.
Teachers as first responders
This pattern of teacher-led innovation is not new. In 2011, with new academic standards, teachers created materials to fill curriculum gaps before official resources caught up. On DonorsChoose, educators spotted the COVID pandemic's mental health toll early, sought food for students during SNAP disruptions, and replaced classroom supplies after natural disasters. These actions show teachers consistently respond to student needs without waiting for top-down directives, and AI is the latest disruption they are handling with similar urgency.
Why this matters for educators
For education professionals, the DonorsChoose data challenges the dominant narrative that AI in classrooms is primarily a threat to academic integrity. Teachers are demonstrating that AI tools can extend their reach-helping students with disabilities access content, breaking language barriers, and personalizing instruction in ways that enhance human connection. Resources like AI for Education provide further context on these classroom applications. The takeaway is clear: support should follow the lead of practitioners who are already using AI to close equity gaps, rather than assuming that top-down restrictions on screen time or cheating software will solve K-12's toughest problems.
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