Beijing has integrated AI into the elementary and middle school curriculum, requiring students to learn about AI from third grade. The initiative, part of a national effort to enhance technological competitiveness, aims to prepare students for a future dominated by AI and to build a skilled workforce.

Students at Denver Center for International Studies at Fairmont learn in both English and Spanish through an early full-immersion model that blends language instruction with cultural learning and rigorous academics. Leaders say the approach -- supported by diverse staff, community partnerships and international experiences -- helps students become bilingual, culturally aware and prepared to be global citizens.

Eighth-grade students at Summit Middle School in Colorado are participating in the World Affairs Challenge, which tasks students with developing local solutions for global issues related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. One team is addressing a local affordable housing shortage by proposing solutions such as educating residents about deed restrictions, promoting solar panel subsidies and advocating for a tax on vacant homes.

Holocaust education faces new challenges as students increasingly encounter misleading digital content, prompting the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance to update its teaching recommendations. The guidelines emphasize digital literacy and explicit teaching about antisemitism, advising teachers to use reputable sources and help students critically evaluate online material.

Yale cognitive scientist Laurie Santos says common assumptions about happiness -- such as chasing higher pay or constant positivity -- often miss the mark, and that protecting teacher well-being requires both structural changes driven by staff feedback and small, evidence-based daily habits. Research-backed practices like creating time "breathing room," noting daily wins and naming sources of stress can help counter burnout, while leaders address workload, time pressures and systemic supports.

In this opinion piece, Rick Hess of the American Enterprise Institute and Ashley Berner of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Education Policy discuss the role of geography education in the age of artificial intelligence. They contend that learning factual knowledge, such as geography, is essential for understanding history and current events, and that relying solely on technology for information can lead to a lack of critical thinking and awareness.

Every student deserves vibrant, challenging instruction that sparks curiosity and builds confidence—even students who are below grade level. The February issue of Educational Leadership explores how educators are making learning more engaging, authentic, and challenge-driven for all students.

AI tools provide a path to sustainable differentiation—helping teachers meet students’ needs without burning out. Check out practical strategies for implementation from Jessica Garner in the latest issue of EL magazine.