Two Roads: What China and the U.S. Are Actually Doing With AI in Schools

A side-by-side reading of primary-source AI-in-education policy from both countries reveals a structural difference with real consequences for practice: China has a binding K-9 AI curriculum standard, prescriptive classroom guardrails, and explicit rural-equity funding. The U.S. has a state patchwork and federal encouragement. Both bets are uncertain. Both could learn from the other.

The Laptop on the Desk Already Runs a Model

Open-source models can run on school laptops today. Free, private, controllable. The technology is ready. The barrier is institutional, not technical.