A survey of Illinois K-12 teachers in late 2025 offers a snapshot of two forces reshaping classroom practice: the integration of AI into education and the upcoming 2026 implementation of the statewide climate change education mandate.
Samantha Lindgren, assistant professor EPOL, along with Ph.D. student Aigul Rakisheva and postdoctoral researcher Carine Verschueren, published their findings through Lindgren’s Sustainable Futures Lab.
Surveying nearly 1,000 Illinois teachers, the study found that teachers are engaged with contemporary issues in AI and sustainability and are concerned about their implications, but are left to decide how to incorporate each into their teaching practice and classrooms.
This research is part of a broader sustainability education initiative within the College of Education. The Sustainable Futures Lab explores Sustainability Education, including Environmental Education, Education for Sustainable Development, and Education for Sustainability, in domestic and international contexts.
Read the full report here.
