Researchers and education groups are flagging risks from widespread generative AI use in schools: a Brookings Institute review and a February Microsoft study linked student AI reliance with declines in critical thinking, judgement and basic facts retention. Pew polling shows over half of teens use AI for schoolwork; Brookings authors caution that ‘cognitive offloading’ — outsourcing thinking to AI — can erode skills. Educators are calling for stronger classroom rules, validated assessment methods, and literacy-focused pedagogy that integrates AI as a tool rather than a replacement for student reasoning. Policymakers and teacher-prep programs face pressure to update standards and exams to reflect AI’s impact on learning.