OpenAI is making significant investments in AI-driven education by launching a dedicated ChatGPT workspace solely for teachers, designed to reduce their classroom burdens. The ChatGPT for Teachers offers complete access to ChatGPT 5.1 Auto, comprising unlimited messages, search capabilities, file uploads, connectors, image generation, and features specifically designed for educators, including onboarding, admin controls, and customized prompts. OpenAI has announced that these features are currently accessible to 150,000 teachers and staff across U.S. school districts.

In contrast to the usual security measures in ChatGPT, ChatGPT for Teachers incorporates “education-grade privacy, security, and compliance programs” to adhere to Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) requirements, guaranteeing that no student data is saved for model training. Educators and administrators can work together on projects and custom GPTs within the collaborative workspace and can upload files from Google Drive or Microsoft 365 for lesson planning, grading, and data analysis.

OpenAI is providing this service free of charge to verified educators and school leaders until June 2027. The organization believes that K-12 teachers are at the vanguard of AI’s evolution in education and is promoting AI tools in early childhood learning and higher education. Leah Belsky, OpenAI’s vice president of education, emphasizes that AI will shape the future landscape for students, with teachers playing a vital role in assisting both students and parents amidst these changes.

OpenAI is dedicated to the educational possibilities of AI, launching a nationwide AI training initiative in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), establishing agreements with college systems to offer free ChatGPT access to students, and consulting with the Ministries of Education of foreign governments.