AI adds a new cost to back-to-school shopping for La. families

By Ayiana Love
Contributing Writer

As Louisiana families see their children back off to school, a new expense is creeping onto supply lists: artificial intelligence.

With more schools adopting AI-powered learning platforms, parents are being asked to provide the technology to support them, and many say the price tag is overwhelming.

A new survey from Digital Promise, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving learning and opportunities for all students, shows that 93 percent of 31 U.S. school districts use AI in their classrooms, 86 percent of students use it for schoolwork, and 60 percent of teachers incorporate it into their lesson plans.

Although schools are embracing this rapidly growing technology, parents are often left to absorb the cost of faster devices, better internet connectivity and additional software.

Powering AI requires significant energy and advanced infrastructure. According to the MIT Technology Review, it would take five gigawatts to power one AI data center, that’s “more than the total power demand from the state of New Hampshire.”

Many older school-issued devices, like Chromebooks and tablets, aren’t built to handle these demands. Schools are implementing AI without fully considering the financial burden, leaving parents responsible for providing their children with reliable technology.

Diamonique Pollard, teacher at St. Rose Elementary School, and a parent, said that the cost of supplies is overwhelming.

“From a teacher’s perspective, I see just how much students need, and as a parent, it feels like too much to keep up with,” Pollard said.

According to the National Retail Federation, parents are spending more on electronics for back-to-school shopping, driving the total up to $39.4 billion – about one billion dollars more than last year. On average, K-12 shoppers budget about $295.81 on electronics on top of apparel, shoes and school supplies.

AI can also impact students’ education.

According to Education Week, between 60 and 70 percent of students have admitted to using AI for cheating. Meanwhile, 63 percent of teachers report students getting in trouble for using AI in schoolwork. Turnitin’s AI detection tool, which has reviewed over 200 million writing assignments, found that 1 in 10 contained AI-generated content.

Dr. Toi Thornton, who teaches mass communication courses at Dillard University and Purdue University Global and has also taught at Loyola University, said he has encountered challenges with students relying on artificial intelligence to complete their assignments rather than doing the work themselves.

“That has been a major issue – many students rely on AI,” Thornton said. “As smart as AI is, it doesn’t have a heart. What I’m teaching requires you to reach people in a certain way, and for that, you need heart. Although AI can help you do that, it isn’t a person.”

To help parents navigate these changes, MarketBeat, a financial media company, offers some practical tips:

• Ask your school for a detailed list of technological requirements for the school year. School sometimes may have specific recommendations for devices and required software that they don’t always push out into the public;

• Explore subsidy programs like the Affordable Connectivity Program that gives discounts on internet service and devices to some low-to-moderate income families;

• Consider buying refurbished devices that meet your school’s AI requirements to save money;

• Check for school-sponsored software subscriptions before buying your own, as some tools may already be covered;

• Don’t forget cybersecurity: install antivirus software and use parental controls to protect your child’s data when using AI tools.

As families gear up for the school year, the real challenge may be finding balance by making sure students have the tools to succeed without breaking the bank. For more tips into how to face these challenges, visit www.marketbeat.com.

This article originally published in the September 8, 2025 print edition of The Louisiana Weekly newspaper.