Two new data points pushed into the same week show a disconnect between parental concern and school practice on AI. A Count on Mothers survey of 2,290 U.S. mothers found widespread unease about AI in schools—many parents urged strict oversight or limits—while an EdWeek Research Center poll of nearly 500 district leaders and principals reported that roughly eight in 10 high school districts now teach AI literacy. The divergence matters to colleges because K‑12 exposure shapes incoming students’ skills and expectations, and it affects teacher‑prep programs and research partnerships. Education deans and teacher‑training directors should work with K‑12 partners on aligned AI literacy standards, while enrollment leaders should track shifting parental sentiment that could reshape demand for alternative credentialing or transfer pathways.