Most K-12 teachers in the United States are navigating artificial intelligence use in schools with little or no formal direction from administrators, according to a new Gallup study released Wednesday.
The survey found that while AI tools have become increasingly common in education, only 18% of teachers report receiving formal guidance from schools or districts on how the technology should be used in their work.
The study, conducted by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation, surveyed more than 2,000 public school teachers nationwide between February and March.
Researchers found that about one-third of teachers receive no guidance at all on AI use across common teaching tasks, while nearly half said any guidance they do receive is informal — such as verbal conversations or unwritten expectations rather than official policies.
The lack of direction appears especially significant in areas involving direct student interaction. Gallup found 69% of teachers said they receive no guidance about using AI for one-on-one instruction or tutoring, while 58% reported receiving no guidance on using AI for grading or student feedback.
The report also found that schools serving wealthier communities are somewhat more likely to provide guidance compared to higher-need districts.
Even when schools do provide direction, Gallup said the guidance often avoids taking a clear position. Most teachers who receive guidance said schools neither explicitly encourage nor discourage AI use, leaving many decisions up to individual educators.
The strongest encouragement for AI use centered around lesson preparation and classroom materials. More than half of teachers who received guidance said schools encouraged AI use for preparing lessons, creating assignments and modifying materials to fit student needs.
Guidance discouraging AI use was relatively rare overall, though grading student work generated the highest level of caution. About 10% of teachers who received guidance on grading said they were discouraged from using AI for that purpose.
Gallup researchers warned that the lack of clarity creates additional pressure for educators already dealing with burnout and shifting expectations in schools.
The report argued that clearer AI policies could help schools reduce confusion while encouraging more consistent and effective adoption of the technology in classrooms.
The findings build on earlier Gallup research showing that six in 10 teachers already use AI tools for work, including roughly three in 10 who use the technology at least weekly.
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