Published Paper Details:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is reshaping educational practices, policy, and reform worldwide by enabling personalized learning, automating assessment and administrative tasks, enhancing curriculum design, and expanding access. While AI offers substantial opportunities, improved learning outcomes, scalable tutoring, and productivity gains, its deployment also raises pressing ethical, legal, and equity concerns including bias, privacy, academic integrity, and uneven access. This paper synthesizes recent empirical and policy literature (2019-2025), evaluates major AI applications in K-12 and higher education, analyzes systemic barriers to adoption, and proposes a framework of evidence-based reforms for responsible, equitable AI integration in education. Key recommendations include: (1) centering human teachers through augmented intelligence approaches; (2) establishing national and institutional AI-in-education governance (policy, standards, procurement); (3) designing assessments and curricula that emphasize higher-order skills alongside AI literacy; (4) protecting learner data and promoting transparency and explainability; and (5) investing in infrastructure and workforce development to reduce inequities. The paper closes with a research agenda and practical steps for policymakers, institutions, and educators to harness AI's potential while managing risks.