Google is giving schools more control over AI tools, but keeping its search engine available to students could come with a catch.
Under changes announced Nov. 3, Google plans to disable several AI services and Search by default for managed K-12 student accounts unless administrators enable them. Schools will be able to control access to individual services, but they cannot keep Search available while removing all of its integrated AI features, according to Google executives who spoke with Education Week.
The changes, expected in early 2027, leave educators balancing concerns about AI-generated answers with students' need for online research tools.
Schools get two AI-powered Search options
According to Google, administrators will be able to activate individual services instead of enabling the entire AI lineup. However, executives told Education Week that schools cannot keep Search enabled while blocking its AI features entirely.
Schools allowing Search will have two options.
- Standard Search includes AI Overviews and conversational features, similar to the consumer experience.
- Guided Learning uses AI to help students work through academic questions step by step without immediately supplying complete answers.
Administrators can apply different settings by grade level or leave Search disabled for selected student groups. Google is expected to provide detailed configuration instructions before the rollout begins.
Earlier classroom AI rollout faced criticism
An update last Aug. 10 extended Gemini in Classroom to eligible K-12 students. Schools first had to authorize access, but the Gemini tab appeared by default once an account qualified. Plans for Gemini study notebooks inside classrooms had also been announced.
Educators and parents questioned whether students would rely on chatbot-generated answers instead of completing assignments independently. Concerns about reliability also surfaced in a separate child-safety assessment of AI Search, which reported faulty homework responses and problems with age-appropriate safeguards. The company disputed the researchers' methods, saying their tests did not reflect typical use.
Under the revised approach, school administrators will determine which AI services students can access. Classroom will also offer teacher-assigned Guided Learning activities connected to course materials, allowing educators to review student progress.
What eWeek found: Keeping Search brings separate privacy obligations
Schools choosing to retain Search face another set of rules governing student access and data. An eWeek review of Google's education service classifications found that Search and Assistant fall under Additional Services, unlike Classroom and Gemini for Education, which are Core Services.
Different privacy terms apply, meaning permission to use Classroom does not automatically account for Search.
Under the company's administrator documentation, schools must obtain parental consent before enabling Additional Services for students under 18. Administrators have also had to reconfirm compliance annually since September 2024. Missing that review can block student access even when a service is enabled. Both obligations predate the newly announced AI restrictions.
Student data introduces another consideration. Google's Search history documentation states that Search Services History can retain queries, AI-generated responses, and certain uploaded content, depending on account settings.
Personalized Recommendations may use saved activity to tailor future responses. Education-account options can differ, although the company says Search history from those accounts is not used to train generative AI models.
Before the 2027 rollout, school IT administrators should confirm which student groups have Additional Services enabled and whether the necessary parental consent is current. They should also inspect available history and personalization settings, then ensure parental notices reflect how student information may be stored and used.
Education-account settings can differ from consumer accounts, and Google says Search history from education accounts is not used to train generative AI models. However, restrictions on model training do not necessarily eliminate separate questions about data retention and personalization.
Whether AI belongs in every classroom remains a decision for schools, but understanding how to use it is a skill worth developing. Start with our free six-minute How to Talk to AI course to learn clearer prompting techniques, then explore other Neuron Academy courses free for seven days. Check out all the lessons here →