AI in the Classroom: Will This Be a Moment of Equity—or Another Missed Opportunity?

As AI tools like ChatGPT and adaptive learning platforms enter classrooms nationwide, educators are being asked to imagine new possibilities for instruction, creativity, and engagement. But for many schools—especially those serving historically underserved communities—this moment is also a test: Will we embrace this disruption as a tool for inclusion, or repeat the patterns of missed opportunity that have shaped digital learning in the past?

For years, digital tools have promised more interactive and inclusive classrooms. Simulations, multimedia projects, and gamified learning aren’t just flashy add-ons; they’re ways to invite curiosity and empower students as creators. Yet too often, the potential of technology goes untapped. In my work with schools and teachers, I call these missed opportunities: moments where the right tool could have made learning more accessible, more efficient, or more engaging, but wasn’t used due to hesitation, lack of access, or uncertainty.

Now, as the ESSER funding that supported pandemic-era technology investments ends, schools face tough choices about what to keep, what to cut, and how to proceed. Without planning, AI could become the next underutilized tool, benefiting the few while bypassing the many.

The equity question looms large. AI has the power to generate personalized content for multilingual learners, support students with disabilities, and automate administrative tasks so teachers can focus on what matters most: human connection. However, realizing that potential requires more than purchasing software. It means ensuring teachers have the time, training, and confidence to use AI meaningfully, not just efficiently.

Too often, educators are overwhelmed by the pace of change. They’re unsure how to align AI with their teaching goals, or they fear making mistakes in front of students. These are not failures. They are signals that our systems must support professional development, access, and digital confidence, especially in communities where tech has historically been under-resourced or misapplied.

As we stand on the edge of an AI-powered future, we must ask ourselves: Are we building classrooms where every student has a chance to participate in that future? Or are we watching yet another wave of innovation pass by, leaving some learners behind?

Missed opportunities are not fixed points—they are pivot points. With reflection and support, we can shift toward more connected, inclusive, and student-centered learning. It starts with small actions: one new tool, one reimagined lesson, one honest conversation about what's working—and what isn’t.
We don’t need to choose between innovation and equity. We need to stop making one optional.