AI in Education Series Part 6: How to Pick an AI Tool for Your School

Blog post Ashley Shaw, SREB Communications SpecialistTaken from an Interview With Leslie Eaves, SREB Project-Based Learning Director

How to Pick the Right AI Tool for Your School

If you’ve been following our AI in Education blog and podcast series, you’ve learned about SREB’s framework for integrating AI into instruction.  

This is what we’ve covered so far in this series:

Now, you might be ready to take the next step: actually selecting an AI tool for your classroom or school. 

But how do you choose the right one? 

That’s where SREB’s AI Tool Procurement, Implementation and Evaluation Checklist comes in.  

Created by educators and experts on our AI in Education Commission, this free resource is designed to help you evaluate tools for effectiveness, safety and instructional value. Whether you’re a district leader, school principal or classroom teacher, the checklist walks you through the process of adopting AI thoughtfully and ethically. 

Here’s a practical breakdown of how to use the checklist — and how to get started today. 

The checklist is built around four different phases – design, procurement, implementation and evaluation.The subcommittee used Workforce EdTech’s AI Integration Framework as a starting model. 

Phase 1: The Design Stage 

The first part of the checklist covers the starting point of the process: figuring out what AI tools you even need in your school. 

Step 1: Define the Need 

Before you start shopping around, pause and ask: What problem are we trying to solve? 

Whether it’s boosting reading proficiency, saving teachers’ time or providing better learning support, AI should serve a clearly defined purpose. This seems obvious, but many schools adopt tools because they’re trendy — not because they’re truly necessary. Without a clear goal, even the best tools can go unused. 

Also, take inventory: do you already have tools that meet this need? And if so, what would an AI-powered solution do better? 

Step 2: Form a Team—Don’t Decide Alone 

Tool adoption should never rest on one person’s shoulders. The checklist emphasizes the importance of involving a range of stakeholders: teachers, school leaders, district technology staff and instructional coaches. You don’t need a committee of 20, but you do need the voices of those who will use the tool daily. 

Teachers bring essential insight. They know whether a tool will integrate into existing pedagogy— and whether it will genuinely benefit students or just add another layer of complexity. 

Phase 2: The Procurement Stage 

After you know what you need, it’s time to start vetting tools. The checklist includes a standalone page of questions you can use directly with vendors — ideal for printouts or planning meeting agendas, but let’s break down what Leslie and I discussed in this episode in a little depth. 

Vet Vendors Carefully 

Not every tool that claims to use AI actually does. And not every tool that uses AI does it in a way that’s ethical or transparent.  

Here are some of the key questions to ask: 

  • How does the tool use data? 
  • Where is data stored, and is it shared or sold? 
  • Is the AI model trained on data representative of your student population? 
  • Does the tool comply with local, state and federal privacy regulations? 
  • Will the tool actually help you address the needs you established in the design phase? 

Bias and data privacy are real concerns. Asking the right questions upfront protects your students and your school from potential harm. 

Phase 3: The Implementation Stage 

Once you’ve found a tool, it is important to deploy it in an effective and responsible way. 

Invest in Thoughtful Implementation 

Once you’ve chosen a tool, don’t assume it will magically take root. Implementation requires professional development—not a one-hour virtual session, but time and space for teachers to learn, test, and collaborate. 

Here are some things that you want to consider when you are getting your teachers trained on your new AI tools: 

  • Ongoing PD with expert users or facilitators 
  • Peer-to-peer learning through professional learning communities or grade-level teams 
  • Embedded time to try the tool before using it with students 

Teachers need opportunities to problem-solve together and refine their use of the tool over time before they start using it in the classroom. 

 

Phase 4: The Evaluation Stage 

Like anything new you try in your school, it is important to monitor and evaluate any new AI tool you implement. 

Monitor, Evaluate and Adjust, But Don’t Expect Overnight Results 

Implementation isn’t the finish line — it’s the midpoint. Evaluation is key. 

You’ll want to track both qualitative and quantitative data: classroom observations, student surveys, teacher feedback and performance metrics. But be careful not to expect overnight success. Many initiatives show a dip before improvement, and sustainable change often takes two to three years. 

If a tool isn’t delivering after consistent effort, don’t call it a failure. Consider what you’ve learned — and how that knowledge can guide your next decision. 

If the process leads you to the thing that works for you, then it isn’t a failure; it’s part of the learning process. 

 

Final Thoughts 

If you’re a school leader or district administrator ready to start this process, begin with the checklist. It’s free, practical and designed with real-world use in mind. 

 

More Support

How to Pick the Right AI Tool for Your School

This conversation is part of our five-part podcast and blog series based on SREB’s Guidance for the Use of AI in the K12 Classroom. Each episode focuses on a different pillar and is designed to stand on its own, whether or not you’ve read the report.