Major teacher unions and education organizations are reportedly embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) principles into their guidance for the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms, according to a report released by the watchdog group Defending Education.
The report, which examines AI guidance, model policies, and training materials from organizations including the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), asserts that these groups are advocating for AI policies centered on "equity" and addressing "algorithmic bias."
"Teachers unions and associations like the NEA and AFT at this point are nothing more than left-wing political operations funneling millions of dollars into promoting divisive DEI and gender ideologies in classrooms," Casey Ryan, an investigative reporter for Defending Education, told Fox News Digital. Ryan suggested these groups aim to "use AI as their next frontier to reach school children in an effort to promote their worldview onto America’s next generation."
According to the report, the concept of "algorithmic bias" refers to the idea that AI systems can reflect the biases of their creators, often perceived as "White or Asian men." The education groups, the report claims, are promoting "equity" in classroom AI to "ensure that students receive politicized answers and receive a politicized education."
AI Initiatives and Policy Recommendations
The American Federation of Teachers, representing over 1.8 million members, has launched the National Academy for AI Instruction, a $23 million initiative in partnership with Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic. The report states this program is designed to establish AI "guardrails" for educators.
A 2025 AFT resolution, cited in the report, noted that while AI has the potential to personalize instruction and reduce administrative burdens, "without proper guardrails it can perpetuate bias, invade privacy, and undermine educational equity, job security and the professional judgment of educators." The report interprets this resolution as embedding the idea that "bias" and "equity" are significant issues within AI in schools.
The National Education Association's AI in Education Hub is described as being "grounded in equity, ethics, and educator voice." The union also promotes a model policy that requires AI vendors to meet standards for "transparency, equity, and ethical decision-making" and undergo audits for "algorithmic bias."
The report also highlights the California Teachers Association's (CTA) involvement in developing state AI guidance for K-12 schools. This guidance reportedly recommends that educators "approach AI with an equity lens" and address concerns about "equity, bias, and access," framing AI education as a means to combat "systemic bias."
Additional organizations mentioned include the American Association of School Administrators, which has published articles discussing AI's ties to "White males" and the "New Jim Code." The National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has encouraged schools to inquire about how AI vendors address "algorithmic biases," while the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) has stated that AI tools should "advance and do not undermine equity," according to the report.
"The goal of these organizations is to embed DEI into AI tools to ensure that students receive politicized answers and receive a politicized education in the nation’s classrooms," the report concludes.