Welcome to Playground Post, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps education innovators ahead of what’s next.

Here’s what we have on deck for today…

1. Teens double their ChatGPT use at school

2. Virtual tutoring closes gap with in-person support

3. More states teach preschool directors business skills

Teens double their ChatGPT use at school

Students aren't waiting for permission to use AI.

• New Pew Research data shows that 26% of teens now use ChatGPT for schoolwork — twice as many as last year

• And while 54% of teens see ChatGPT as acceptable for research — studies reveal concerning gaps: the tool answered doctorate-level history questions barely better than guessing randomly

• Black and Hispanic students use ChatGPT more frequently, yet the tool shows notable weaknesses in topics like social mobility and African geopolitics.

With only 18% of teachers currently using AI in classrooms, there's an urgent need to bridge the gap between student adoption and educator guidance.

Virtual tutoring closes gap with in-person support

New research from Johns Hopkins shows virtual tutoring can match traditional methods — when implemented correctly.

First-graders using Ignite Reading's online program jumped from 16% to 50% reading at grade level in just one school year.

The secret? Tracking student attendance.

• Local staff ensured students showed up, resulting in 85% attendance rates

• Schools also appointed paid "champions" who spent three hours weekly troubleshooting issues and reviewing achievement data

Organizations planning to scale tutoring programs can achieve similar results by focusing on strong implementation support and consistent attendance monitoring, rather than just choosing the right platform.

More states teach preschool directors business skills

Three states now offer apprenticeships that teach early childhood educators how to run a business — not just teach kids.

When teachers step into director roles, they often struggle with tasks like managing staff and balancing budgets.

"Just because you know how to work with children doesn't mean you know how to run a business to work with children," explains Anne Banks from New Hampshire's Community College System.

The programs in Kentucky, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire combine hands-on training with mentorship. Early results show promise — graduates report higher wages and stay in their roles longer.

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