As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes education and the workforce, a majority of parents and educators believe it's essential for students to develop data literacy skills, according to a new survey released today by Data Science 4 Everyone and Mathematica.
The survey of more than 1,300 parents, teachers, school leaders and state and local education officials found widespread agreement that it's crucial for data literacy to be a central part of learning for K-12 students. Key findings include:
- 88% of respondents believe all students should be data literate before graduating high school
- 84% of respondents said data literacy and data science should be integrated across multiple subjects, not just math or computer science
- 76% of respondents believe AI has made data education more important than ever
Parents and educators were also asked which skills are most important for students to be "AI-ready." The majority of respondents prioritized problem-solving, critical thinking and strong foundations in core academic subjects (math, science, English) over more technical skills such as computer programming or writing effective prompts for AI tools.
Drawing on the survey findings, DS4E and Mathematica identify several implications for educators, school and district leaders, and policymakers. These include expanding opportunities for students to develop data- and AI-related competencies, prioritizing durable skills for an evolving technological landscape, integrating data literacy across all subjects and connecting data literacy to civic participation.
"These survey results make it clear that parents and educators are hyperaware of the need to ensure every student has the opportunity to develop data literacy skills before entering the real world," said Zarek Drozda, director of Data Science 4 Everyone. "AI is playing an increasingly large role in how we learn, work and participate in our society. It's up to education leaders and policymakers to provide the next generation with the durable skills needed to engage with AI tools thoughtfully, evaluate AI-generated information critically, and make informed decisions in their personal and professional lives."
"One of the clearest findings from this survey is the gap between the importance parents and educators place on data literacy and the opportunities they believe students have to develop those skills," said Kara Conroy, senior researcher at Mathematica. "That gap highlights the need for continued investment in curriculum, instructional resources and professional learning so that schools and educators can better support students as they learn to evaluate information, reason with data and engage responsibly with AI."
This survey included 1,333 respondents, including parents, teachers, school administrators and state and local education agency staff. Data were collected between February and March 2026.
More information
The full report, "What Students Need to Thrive in a Data- and AI-Driven World: Perspectives from Parents and Educators," is available here.
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Citation: New survey: Parents and educators say the rise of AI requires students to develop stronger data skills (2026, August 10) retrieved 10 August 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-08-survey-parents-ai-requires-students.html
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