A new version of its advanced chatbot, ChatGPT for Teachers, is designed to provide an education-focused version of the platform complete with teacher-specific controls, data privacy safeguards and district-level management features, the company said Wednesday in a news release.
“Teachers get a secure workspace to adapt materials for their classrooms, get more out of prep time, collaborate with peers, and get comfortable using AI on their own terms,” the release said, adding that schools can have one secure staff account, “with the same education-grade privacy, security, and compliance programs that protect student data and support [Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act] FERPA requirements.”
The move comes at a time when educator adoption of AI tools is increasing: a recent Gallup survey, which OpenAI cited in the release, found that roughly 6 in 10 teachers reported using an AI tool during the 2024-25 school year.
Gallup’s data also showed that teachers who engaged with AI on a weekly basis reported saving an average of 5.9 hours per week, amounting to an “AI dividend” of about six weeks of additional time per year.
Beyond efficiency, most teachers also saw improvements in the quality of their work. According to the survey, “Most teachers who use AI tools say they improve the quality of their work,” including tasks such as grading, planning, administrative documentation and communication.
OpenAI’s rollout of ChatGPT for Teachers also includes a new Teen AI Literacy Blueprint, which the company described as a resource to help schools support human-forward, ethical AI use.
“Safeguards alone are not enough. Our vision for AI literacy is one in which teachers, families, and communities — supported by robust infrastructure — prepare teens to use AI responsibly and productively,” the company wrote in its blueprint. “AI also will continue to advance, so building and maintaining AI literacy will require fostering a culture of lifelong learning that is rooted in community institutions and values.”
In July, OpenAI partnered with the American Federation of Teachers and pledged “$10 million over five years to fund resources, engineering support, computing access and technical guidance” for educators working to build or implement AI tools in their classrooms.
Now, the company’s education-grade version of ChatGPT includes access to the GPT-5.1 Auto model, the ability to upload and analyze files, image-generation tools, and connectors for Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, according to the release. The company also said it curated a library of teacher-tested prompts to help educators get started and reduce time spent on planning or administrative tasks.
After June 2027, OpenAI said pricing may change, but it will give advance notice so teachers and schools can plan accordingly.
