Preparing Tomorrow’s Graduates: The Importance of AI Readiness in Education

Imagining a New Workplace Landscape

Picture this: Tomorrow’s graduates step into workplaces where AI tools are as common as email — diagnosing patient symptoms, analyzing market trends, optimizing supply chains, or even designing new infrastructure. From healthcare to marketing to engineering, nearly every field is undergoing a radical transformation. The pressing question remains: Are our schools adequately preparing students for this new reality? Furthermore, do we have effective methods for assessing their readiness?

Gwinnett County Public Schools Leads the Charge

At Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS), educators are steadfastly working to ensure the answer to both questions is “yes.” Their mission is clear: to make every student “AI ready” — prepared to engage with emerging technologies, such as generative AI, ethically and responsibly in school, life, and future work, regardless of where those careers lead.

A Comprehensive Framework for AI Readiness

In 2019, GCPS rolled out an AI readiness framework developed in partnership with multiple stakeholders. This framework revolves around six core areas: Data Science, Mathematical Reasoning, Creative Problem Solving, Ethics, Applied Experiences, and Programming. It was shaped by the insights of district subject matter experts, including educators from computer science, math, and science fields, as well as external partners.

Developing a Diagnostic Assessment

To further this initiative, GCPS collaborated with the ISTE research team in 2025 to create a diagnostic assessment tool. This tool measures student AI readiness across the key skills outlined in the framework. Unlike traditional summative assessments, these diagnostic assessments gauge students’ current knowledge and skills, allowing educators to identify areas for improvement and tailor support accordingly.

A Systematic Approach to Test Design

Here’s a deeper look at how the district and the research team brought the AI readiness diagnostic assessment to life:

Defining Objectives

The team needed to consider practical criteria: Who would take the test? How would it be delivered? What time constraints were present? Although the AI readiness framework spans preK-12, the initial focus was on designing a diagnostic for high school students in grades 9-12. The assessment was intentionally digital to enhance flexibility and targeted completion times of 10 to 15 minutes.

Drafting Questions

The ISTE research team, in conjunction with GCPS partners, identified key framework constructs to be measured in each of the six core areas to ensure each aspect was consistently covered. Once the constructs were established, subject matter experts collaborated to draft three to five items for each construct, aligning with their expertise.

Reviewing and Refining Items

Following the drafting phase, the items underwent a rigorous review process to assure clarity and singular focus on specific skills. This refinement step narrowed the total to two items per construct across 26 constructs, leading to the creation of two pilot assessment versions in the district’s survey platform, Qualtrics, facilitating easy distribution.

Testing the Pilot Assessment

Approximately 1,200 students from Seckinger High School participated in the pilot, divided into two groups by last name to evaluate the parallel sets of items. The district ensured that both groups reflected similar demographics, with students completing the assessment during their homeroom period.

Analyzing Results for Improvement

While expert collaboration established strong construct validity, the reliability of the assessment needed evaluation. The research team conducted psychometric analyses, including test reliability, empirical item analysis, and item response analysis to assess item performance, identifying areas needing refinement.

Looking Ahead

With analysis complete, the collaborative effort culminated in a final diagnostic assessment crafted for high school students. Plans are underway to adapt the tool for other grade levels and introduce more complex items that enable students to showcase their skills in real-world scenarios.

Building a Comprehensive Picture of Readiness

Going forward, GCPS aims to use the diagnostic results alongside various other data points, like teacher evaluations and capstone projects, to deliver a comprehensive overview of student AI readiness. This holistic approach will inform curriculum development and targeted strategies for student support throughout the district.

Final Thoughts

Diagnostic measures of AI readiness can provide invaluable data for strategic planning and resource allocation, ensuring students are well-versed in a world increasingly infused with AI. The collaborative efforts between district leaders and research teams illustrate the significance of thoughtful design and stringent assessment practices. GCPS and ISTE+ASCD hope their work can serve as a reference model for other districts striving to prepare students for a future enriched with generative AI.