Over half of the states in the country have released some form of guidance for implementing artificial intelligence (AI) into K-12 schools, including Louisiana. The Pelican State has spent the last couple of years ensuring its students are learning how to safely use this emerging tech and leveraging AI to help raise educational outcomes.
The Louisiana Department of Education launched its AI Task Force in August 2023, publishing their AI Guidance for K-12 schools a year later. Key features include:
- Approach: “A four-component cyclical approach focusing on Purpose & Research, Policy & Guidance, Engage Stakeholders, and Evaluation & Monitoring.”
- Appropriate Use Levels: “A unique four-tier system (AI-Empowered, AI-Enhanced, AI-Assisted, and AI-Prohibited) aligned with the SAMR model for technology integration.”
- Safety Recommendations: “At both system and classroom levels, including specific considerations for data storage, software approval processes, monitoring protocols, and human oversight requirements.”
- Infrastructure Needs: “Including bandwidth considerations, cybersecurity protocols, and digital citizenship requirements for AI integration.”
- Approved Tools: “A curated list of AI-powered tools for teachers with age-band recommendations and specific use cases, plus a comprehensive glossary of AI terms relevant to education.”
Schools can create their own AI policies based on these recommendations as well. An August 2025 update report from the Louisiana Department of Education’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) highlights three AI educational tools being used across the state: Zearn, Amira Learning and Khanmigo.
Zearn, “a digital math learning platform designed to accelerate K–8 math learning,” has the highest number of active students across the state, with over 272,000 kids participating, about 62,000 of which have engaged in 90 or more lessons this year alone. An impact study of the tool on the math achievements of Louisiana 4th-8th-grade students was conducted by Johns Hopkins University, and they found that “students using Zearn Supplemental scored 5.97 points higher than non-Zearn users” on the state math assessment, and those who completed 90 or more lessons “outscored those with lower usage by 4.7 points.”
Amira Learning, “an AI-powered reading tutor designed to support early literacy development,” was the next highest used tool with over 57,000 active students and over 4 million stories read. In a study of over 79,000 K-5 students across 12 Louisiana school systems, there were several statistically significant findings, including:
- K-3 grade students who used Amira scored higher than non-users on their spring 2024 DIBELS, which are brief assessments used to screen and monitor early literacy skills; and
- 4-5 grade students who used Amira had higher scores than non-users on their spring 2024 LEAP ELA’s, the Louisiana Educational Assessment Program’s English Language Arts assessments.
Lastly, Khanmigo is “an AI-powered learning assistant developed by Khan Academy” that “functions as a tutor and teaching aide” across subjects. The Khanmigo pilot was launched in January of this year, with nearly 50% of participating students already activating their accounts and 71% of teachers using it to support their work. The company has also delivered over 22 professional development sessions with regular check-ins to improve implementation.
The Louisiana Department of Education is continuing to explore new programs and evaluate implementation to ensure the tools are effective and maintain student privacy standards. BESE recently visited New Harmony High School in New Orleans to observe one of the area’s first charter school classes teaching about AI. The Board’s President, Ronnie Morris, discussed the possibility of programs like this spreading across the state, envisioning that “Every student is going to have a tutor in his laptop.”
All of these success stories from Louisiana serve as solid evidence for the power that AI tools can have on progressing learning outcomes for children. This is just the beginning as more states join in on these efforts or expand their already-active programs. These accounts should serve as motivation for all educators, policymakers and parents to embrace the future of education for American children, helping them to take learning further than ever before.