Shortly after generative AI exploded onto the scene, I got the call. One of my sons had used AI to draft a discussion response—not all responses in that English assignment, just one. Its structure was comically different from the others. His teacher was understandably concerned. My initial reaction was alarm: Ban all AI tools to prevent cheating! Was he losing something essential?
Just a few years later, the conversation has shifted—and this issue of Educational Leadership reflects that evolution. The question (not just in my house, but across K–12 education) is no longer, “How do we stop students from using AI?” but rather, “How do we teach them to use it meaningfully while preserving learning that is deeply human?” (p. 22) Mindlessly pasting AI-generated text into an assignment? Not meaningful. Prompting AI to review an essay and show two specific areas where your analysis of quotes could be stronger? Meaningful.
What emerges across these articles is a vision of AI as an amplifier, not a replacement. Our contributors show us students who write first, then seek AI feedback—not the reverse (p. 22). They introduce us to teachers who ask students to “chart” their AI use, making visible the thinking behind their choices (p. 28). We see classrooms where AI helps create problems “worthy of students’ authentic engagement” (p. 33), and where it enhances accessibility for students with diverse learning needs (p. 38).
The through line is clear: AI works best when it supports, rather than shortcuts, the messy, essential work of human thinking. Students still need to struggle productively (p. 58), to wrestle with story ideas, to understand how perspective shapes their writing and why it matters (p. 60).
Our kids are growing up in a world where AI is ubiquitous. As my one son learned, “dragging and dropping” AI into an assignment won’t do him (or his grade) any favors. But learning the art of smart prompting, reflective human-AI dialogue, and ethical, thoughtful application will prepare him for an AI-powered future.
This issue offers practical wisdom for ensuring that students remain at the center of their own learning—with AI as a partner in the process, not a threat to it.
