How Generative AI Can Support Underfunded Schools in STEM EducationHow Generative AI Can Support Underfunded Schools in STEM Education

Emerging technologies can complement existing educational tools, empower instructors and provide personalized instruction for students

Peter Relan, Chair, MathGPT.ai

January 28, 2025

5 Min Read
Students working at computers
Getty Images

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education is at a crossroads in the U.S.

No debate is needed about the critical role that the STEM field plays in our nation's future. After all, STEM occupations are projected to grow more than twice as fast as other occupations. Yet, our public schools – from K-12 to community colleges to four-year universities – continue to grapple with systemic funding gaps, teacher burnout and widening disparities for disadvantaged students.

While STEM careers are taking off, the number of blue-collar workers has only increased since the pandemic. Simultaneously, we’ve seen an unprecedented number of school closures. With emerging technologies like generative AI, we have a generational opportunity to address these issues by complementing existing educational tools, empowering instructors and providing personalized instruction for students.

Generative AI, once heralded as a school ‘disruptor,’ may be the very technology needed to offer a new lifeline to underfunded schools struggling to meet their students' needs.

A Flawed and Underfunded System

The state of STEM education in the United States is underscored by how we compare to other OECD countries (i.e., economically developed and democratic countries): As of 2022, our students ranked 28th out of 37 in mathematics, with average scores falling by 13% since 2018. While we fare better in science, the United States ranking at 12th out of 37 means we still have work to do.

Related:How AI and No-Code Platforms Will Empower the 2025 Workforce

Simply put, STEM studies need a lift—urgently. And to better understand how we can find a solution, let’s first ask, “How did we get here?”

At its core, most problems with the United States public education are tied back to money.

The majority of states now devote less of their economies to K-12 schools than before the Great Recession, costing schools $360 billion between 2016 and 2021, according to a recent report from the Albert Shanker Institute, University of Miami and Rutgers University.

Although funding distribution is decided individually by states, funding models guided by income and tax revenue have inherent consequences for school districts. For instance, low-income communities with lower property and income taxes ultimately mean schools in these communities receive less money than their affluent counterparts.

This translates to underserved areas being unable to invest in adequate STEM programming, lab equipment, or advanced courses. Compounding the issue, racial and socioeconomic disparities mean that black students are 3.5 times more likely to be in “chronically underfunded” school districts, according to the above-mentioned report.

Related:What to Expect From Generative AI in 2025

So, what role can generative AI play to bridge these gaps?

A Helping Hand for Under-Resourced Educators

Limited resources are only part of the problem for teachers in underfunded schools. Many educators face burnout from overwhelming workloads, large class sizes and the emotional strain of constant demands. These constraints make it nearly impossible for teachers to provide the individualized attention students need to thrive in STEM fields.

Even more critical, policies like California’s AB 1705 have only magnified these issues. AB 1705 eliminates foundational math and English courses in all community colleges, so students are being left behind and instructors teaching higher-level courses now carry the burden of bringing their students up to speed.

A generative AI-based solution can help alleviate some of this burden by serving as a digital teaching assistant. From automating administrative tasks to providing targeted insights on student performance, generative AI can free up teachers’ time, enabling them to focus on what they do best—teaching and mentoring.

At the same time, using generative AI-based solutions to remove the burden of bringing students up to speed presents an equally strong benefit for them. Education solutions powered by generative AI will become increasingly reliable as this technology advances, meaning students can stay up to speed. Convenient instruction and accurate guidance are among the many benefits generative AI-based solutions will soon bring to students in classrooms across the nation.

Office Hours at Your Fingertips

Generative AI in education has become the “new normal.”

While concerns about generative AI's use for cheating or undermining learning are not without merit, the notion of not allowing generative AI-based solutions with guardrails and full instructor control in the classroom is antiquated. As opposed to raw Large Language Models being used by students to get answers, K-12 schools and universities across the nation are already implementing generative AI solutions to better prepare students for tomorrow’s workforce and the data suggests this is already having a positive effect.

Among the many benefits, by offering personalized, on-demand learning experiences, generative AI-based solutions can empower students to learn at their own pace and according to individual learning styles.

For students who may feel hesitant to ask questions in a traditional classroom setting, generative AI can provide a judgment-free space to explore challenging concepts.

Going a step further, these tools can help close achievement gaps in schools where teacher-to-student ratios are less than ideal and offer support that supplements classroom instruction with flexible ‘office hours at a student’s convenience, rather than attending office hours at a predetermined time.

Looking Ahead: Generative AI and the Future of STEM Education

The challenges facing STEM education today are concerning, but not hopeless.

As the debate over education funding continues, it’s clear that schools cannot wait for policy changes alone. Fortunately, private sector endeavors, including Salesforce’s public education grants, continue to lead the charge in innovating for our students.

By integrating generative AI-based solutions into classrooms, we can provide critical support to both teachers and students, ensuring that those learning within and serving public education have the opportunity to succeed. We’re removing the barriers to preparing students for the demands of our modern-day workforce, where understanding generative AI and knowing how to use it to your advantage will be critical.

About the Author

Peter Relan

Chair, MathGPT.ai, MathGPT.ai

Peter Relan is the chair of MathGPT.ai.

Sign Up for the Newsletter
The most up-to-date AI news and insights delivered right to your inbox!

You May Also Like