OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Teachers — FERPA‑compliant, free until June 2027

OpenAI has announced ChatGPT for Teachers, a new edition of ChatGPT tailored for K‑12 educators. The offering is designed to meet school privacy requirements (including FERPA considerations) and will be available free of charge until June 2027.

The company positions this product to help teachers create lesson plans, worksheets, assessments and other classroom materials while getting accustomed to AI tools. ChatGPT for Teachers includes many features from the consumer product — unlimited messages with GPT‑5.1 Auto, file uploads, image generation, memory, and connectors to other apps — with additional controls and compliance measures for school use.

Key features

• FERPA‑focused privacy: Built to align with education data protections so schools can use AI without exposing student records improperly.
• Free through June 2027: OpenAI is offering the service at no cost to teachers until that date to encourage adoption.
• Full ChatGPT capabilities: GPT‑5.1 Auto, unlimited messages, image generation and file uploads for building materials and visual assets.
• Connectors & collaboration: Integrations with other apps and features that let teachers share chats and see suggested use cases from peers.

OpenAI has other education offerings, too — ChatGPT Edu (institutional access) and Study Mode (student‑focused step‑by‑step help). The Teachers edition seems aimed at reducing friction for educators who want to adopt AI while keeping student data protections in mind.

Competition in the education AI space is heating up: Google has been pushing discounts and tools around Gemini for schools, so expect other vendors and edtech platforms to respond. Schools will need to weigh benefits (time savings, personalized content) against risks (accuracy, bias, over‑reliance) when adopting these tools.

Questions for schools and teachers

• How will districts audit and monitor AI usage to ensure student data stays protected?
• What training and guardrails will teachers need to use AI responsibly (citation checks, bias awareness)?
• Will AI‑generated content be accepted by curriculum standards and assessment policies?

If you’re a teacher interested in trying the tool, check with your district about official rollout plans and data‑handling policies. OpenAI’s broader education play suggests the company sees classrooms as a strategic area for long‑term adoption.

Discussion: Would you use an AI assistant to write lesson plans, quizzes or homework — and what safeguards would you want before deploying it in your classroom?