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. Teachers clock 71,000 hours of AI training

2. Why students still cheat in the AI era

3. States unlock new markets for education tools

Teachers clock 71,000 hours of AI training

Schools aren't just talking about AI anymore — they're preparing for it.

• Data Science 4 Everyone reports that 2,500 teachers completed 71,000 hours of data science training since 2020.

• The shift from reaction to action comes as 277 schools added data science classes to their curriculum.

"We're going to see a lot more on the evaluation side of AI systems and tools," says Pati Ruiz from Digital Promise.

This signals a clear market need for education organizations: schools want AI tools that prioritize student privacy and help combat misinformation.

Why students still cheat in the AI era

Middle school students use ChatGPT to write essays. High schoolers ask AI to solve math problems. Yet UC San Diego's academic integrity director Tricia Bertram Gallant says the reasons behind cheating haven't changed.

Her research shows students aren't trying to game the system — they're just humans responding to pressure.

Her solution? Skip the detection tools. Instead, she recommends redesigning assignments to naturally prevent cheating, whether students use AI or not.

States unlock new markets for education tools

Federal education grants worth $40B+ annually may soon flow directly to states, with fewer strings attached. This shift creates 50 distinct markets for education solutions, as states gain more control over spending decisions.

For education organizations, this means:

• Title I and special education funds could bypass federal restrictions

• States will need cost-effective tools they can implement independently

• Career and technical education programs may see increased funding

The shift signals an opportunity for organizations to develop state-specific solutions rather than one-size-fits-all approaches.

If you enjoyed this edition of Playground Post, please share it with your friends!

We’ll be back with another edition on Tuesday. See you then!

To stay up-to-date on all things education innovation, visit us at playgroundpost.com.