WASHINGTON — U.S. schools are grappling with a surge in students using artificial intelligence tools to complete assignments, prompting educators to rethink assessment methods and academic integrity policies.
Teachers across high schools and colleges report that AI-generated content has become commonplace for homework and essays, with many saying take-home writing assignments are now difficult to administer without assuming some level of AI assistance. A survey by the Center for Democracy & Technology found that 68 percent of middle and high school teachers used AI detection tools in the 2023-24 school year, up substantially from prior years.
“The cheating is off the charts. It’s the worst I’ve seen in my entire career,” said Casey Cuny, an English teacher with 23 years of experience, in comments reported by the Associated Press.
Many districts initially banned tools like ChatGPT after its launch in late 2022, but attitudes have shifted as educators seek ways to integrate AI responsibly while curbing misuse. Pew Research Center data showed the number of teens using ChatGPT for schoolwork doubled between 2023 and 2024.
Turnitin, a widely used plagiarism detection service, reported that some AI use was detected in about 1 in 10 student writing assignments reviewed over a recent period, with roughly 3 percent generated mostly by AI. However, researchers at Stanford University found that overall self-reported cheating rates among students have remained relatively stable since the advent of generative AI, hovering around 60 to 70 percent as in previous years.
Schools are adopting varied approaches. Some have moved toward in-class assessments, oral presentations and process-based evaluations to reduce opportunities for undetected AI use. Others are updating honor codes and providing guidance on acceptable AI applications, such as brainstorming or editing, while prohibiting full generation of work.
Challenges persist with detection tools, which can produce false positives, particularly affecting English learners. In one reported case, a student successfully challenged an accusation in court. Officials caution against over-reliance on such software.
Universities have also seen increases in confirmed cases. In the UK, nearly 7,000 university students were formally caught using AI for cheating in the 2023-24 academic year, triple the previous year, according to data obtained by The Guardian.
U.S. educators continue to monitor the issue as the new school year approaches. Some institutions are forming task forces or piloting AI literacy programs to address both the risks and potential benefits of the technology. Details on nationwide policy changes remain under discussion at many districts and higher education bodies.
