US education grants will now prioritize AI tools, not just 'evidence-based' ones

The US Department of Education will now prioritize grant applications that use artificial intelligence in education. This means schools and organizations applying for federal money will get an advantage if their proposals include AI tools, even if those tools are not yet proven by traditional research standards.

For decades, federal education grants have focused on programs with 'evidence-based' results, meaning they had to show proof of effectiveness through studies. This new priority shifts the focus to a technology, AI, that often lacks this kind of long-term evidence. It means federal money will flow to AI development and deployment in schools, potentially before the tools are fully understood or validated.