While 57% of school districts report using AI in their network environments, most are still in the early stages of implementation for their back-end systems, according to a new survey from the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN).
Operational AI in Education: A CoSN 2025 Member Survey gathered insights from 281 CoSN members on how they are using AI in their districts’ network environments. CoSN conducted the survey from June 19 to July 18, 2025.
“K-12 is only at the starting line with AI in operations. This survey gives a first look at where districts stand today and the paths ahead. AI can transform how schools run — streamlining processes, saving time, and freeing educators to focus on teaching and learning,” said Keith Krueger, CEO of CoSN, in a Sept. 23 press release.
According to the survey, 57% of respondents are using AI in their network environments. However, the percentage of network processes currently leveraging AI technologies is quite low, with the vast majority (72%) citing 10% or less.
Additionally, more than three-quarters (76%) of respondents report that their district leaders are involved in setting direction for AI use in operational areas. Of those, 41% are still in the “early discussion stage,” and 23% have started to define their vision for AI.
Notably, 82% indicate a level of technical readiness, but just 16% indicate they are “fully ready with needed tools and systems.”
The survey also highlights cybersecurity as a concern when it comes to AI, as only 7% of respondents are “fully confident that their district’s operational use of AI is aligned with cybersecurity best practices.”
“Overall, districts are in the early stages of using AI for network operations. While most districts have implemented operational AI to some degree, they have done so only to a limited extent,” the report says.
