By Rep. Jeff Hilovsky
Jeff Hilovsky is a Republican serving Millsboro in the Delaware House of Representatives.
The world is changing nearly faster than we can react. Education in Delaware can lead the way by wisely incorporating artificial intelligence into classrooms now.
Education must change, as the centuries-old teacher/student/classroom model has been in force since the beginning of our country’s educational system over 250 years ago.
Now, we have proven tools (when used effectively) to model new technologies that will enable our students to be competitive in the workforce of the future. Each student enters school each day with the expectation of a safe, clean, distraction-free environment for learning, and they have little control over instructional content or delivery. Since almost all students have no vote or voice, or no say in their education, they place their trust in visionary adult leaders to guide them, expecting not to be dictated to on what to think but to be provided with tools to teach them how to think. AI must now be a part of the education reality.
With urgency, education leaders and legislators must craft a plan to transform Delaware’s schools from underperformers to beacons of excellence. In the 1990s, Delaware consistently ranked in the top 10 nationally in education results. However, since 2013, our system has spiraled downward, and we now rank near the bottom nationally. Delaware ranks 37th overall and 48th in fourth grade and eighth grade student outcomes.
Our challenges do not stem from a lack of dedicated teachers or talented students but from a culture focused on proficiency rather than mastery. Proficiency means passing tests and meeting minimums, settling for average. Mastery requires deep understanding, critical thinking and innovative application. Not all students will master every subject, but aiming higher can elevate them all. This paradigm shift prioritizes success over mediocrity, demanding bold investments in students, combined with visionary leadership to drive change.
To spark this shift, we must integrate artificial intelligence and virtual reality into K-12 curricula. These tools will personalize learning, empower educators and prepare our workforce for 21st-century demands, benefiting students, teachers and Delaware’s economy, while positioning us as a national leader.
A proficiency model fosters a bland, average approach that can lead many students to disengage and drop out of school. In 2023, 1,768 students dropped out of Delaware high schools. Incorporating AI can change that by adapting content to individual needs, thereby personalizing learning. For example, an AI tutor could analyze algebra errors in real time, customize learning to meet students at their levels and develop learning initiatives to maximize results. Studies show that AI personalization improves math and reading outcomes by 20%-30% when biases are addressed.
Additionally, this will foster success by adding confidence and improving attendance, by making school rewarding. Graduates emerge innovative, confident and prepared for real-world challenges. Adding virtual reality will immerse students in experiences like exploring ancient civilizations or simulating experiments, engaging with virtual robots to learn robotics, thereby boosting engagement by up to 90% and improving outcomes for all types of learners.
Importantly, leaders must be vigilant to protect against inappropriate or biased content — such as explicit material, stereotypes or skewed data — that could perpetuate inequalities. Installing proper systems and processes to effectively monitor AI tools against explicit content, overt or covert bias, sensationalism and other potentially harmful content will protect our students. Agreements with AI providers must mandate transparency, bias audits, guardrails (such as filters) and Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act-compliant privacy, with no data sharing without consent. Penalties should include heavy fines, severe penalties for violating contract terms and accountability through significant liability. Oversight must be present at all levels, including school boards, parents, educators and administrators.
Teachers would benefit, too. Overburdened with administrative tasks and large class sizes, they currently have little time for mentorship. Imagine if teachers could spend most of their days teaching and mentoring. AI can free them from the mundane tasks of lesson planning and grading, while helping to identify areas for improvement.
Tools already in use, such as IBM Watson or Khan Academy’s Khanmigo, can efficiently create quizzes and reports. Additionally, professional development trains teachers to serve as deep-learning facilitators, equipped to address biases. In Delaware, with 15%-plus teacher turnover, AI will reduce burnout and improve retention, and may reignite passion.
Pilots in selected school districts could showcase better work-life balance and fulfilling classrooms, making teachers masters who model lifelong learning, while demonstrating success for statewide implementation.
For Delaware’s workforce, AI integration is key. Top industries like finance, health care and manufacturing already use AI. Innovation hubs like the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research Campus, the Delaware IDeA Network of Biomedical Research Excellence and Delaware State University can be bridges to industry, starting in high school. Unfortunately, only some of our high schoolers are college-ready or career-ready. Current results show that graduates have low proficiency in English (40%) and math (30%). Embedding AI education that emphasizes problem solving, ethics and data literacy from elementary levels — combined with virtual reality simulation that matches job demands and addresses ethical issues — can reverse and radically change those dismal statistics.
The World Economic Forum reports that AI will create 97 million jobs if workers are skilled. AI/VR-educated graduates can fill gaps in industries such as autonomous vehicles, personalized medicine, agriculture and the trades, attracting businesses, boosting tax revenue and ensuring a responsible workforce that rockets productivity, while unlocking unlimited student potential.
Top leadership, including Delaware education secretary Cynthia Marten and her team, should collaborate with legislators on statutes for revolutionary change. To offset costs, eliminate outdated “old-school” redundancies and ineffective programs, and reallocate those funds.
This AI/VR integration is a paradigm shift that honors student potential, teacher expertise and workforce strength, while incorporating ethical protections. Thoughtful implementation, strategic vision and tactical execution, combined with AI and VR integration, could make Delaware the model of national excellence. We must have the courage to embrace the future, to leave behind our mediocre past and to guarantee success for the next generation of leaders in Delaware. Transforming education will add value to students, their families, their communities, Delaware and the global marketplace.
Let’s not settle for the low rankings any longer. I urge my fellow legislators, educators and citizens to support this initiative. Bold initiatives never attempted are just dreams never fulfilled. Together, we can build an education system that doesn’t just pass the test but masters the future.
Reader reactions, pro or con, are welcomed at civiltalk@iniusa.org.