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What Students Need to Thrive in a Data and AI Driven World
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What Students Need to Thrive in a Data and AI Driven World

Perspectives from Parents and Educators
Published: Aug 10, 2026
Publisher: Mathematica
Surveys and Data Collection STEM Foundations

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Authors

Grady Deacon

Kara Conroy

Hannah Weissman

Key Findings

  • 88% of respondents believe all students should be data literate before graduating from high school.
  • 76% say the rise of AI has made data education more important than ever.
  • Only 58% of respondents believe schools are providing students with sufficient opportunities to develop those skills.
Artificial intelligence (AI) and data-driven technologies are becoming part of students' everyday learning and future careers. As AI use in schools grows, educators, parents, and policymakers are working to identify the knowledge and skills students need to evaluate information, reason with data, and use AI responsibly. To better understand these perspectives, Mathematica and Data Science for Everyone surveyed parents, teachers, school administrators, and state and local education agency staff between February and March 2026.

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