For many K–12 teachers, the workweek doesn’t end on Friday. Lesson planning, grading and communication with families often extend into the weekend, leaving educators with less time to recharge.
To better understand how teachers manage these demands, American College of Education (ACE) commissioned a survey of 582 currently employed K–12 classroom teachers in the United States. The findings reveal how weekend workloads, expectations outside contracted hours and artificial intelligence (AI) tools affect teachers’ time away from the classroom.
Key Takeaways
- 69% of K–12 teachers do schoolwork on weekends, spending an average of five hours each weekend doing so; 21% spend eight or more hours on weekend schoolwork
- 80% of teachers use AI tools for schoolwork, with 43% saying AI reduces the time they spend on schoolwork
- Among teachers who save time through AI, 58% use that time for additional lesson preparation or other school responsibilities
- 74% of teachers who work weekends say required tasks don’t fit into their contracted working hours
- 60% of teachers who work weekends feel pressure to respond to students or families outside contracted hours
Weekend Work and AI: Where Teachers’ Time Goes
For many educators, preparing for the school week takes up part of the weekend. Nearly seven in 10 teachers (69%) reported doing schoolwork on weekends. Among those who did, the average was about five hours each weekend, with 21% spending eight or more hours.
AI tools may help teachers manage some of that workload. Eight in 10 teachers (80%) reported using AI for schoolwork, and 43% of teachers said it reduced the time they spent working. Another 33% reported no difference, while 4% said AI increased their workload.
Saving time, however, didn’t always mean spending less time on school responsibilities. Among teachers who saved time through AI, 58% put at least some of that time toward additional lesson preparation or other schoolwork.
How Teachers Used the Time Saved Through AI
Among teachers who save time using AI:
- 50% spend more time with family and friends
- 49% use the time for grading, emails or other schoolwork
- 45% complete household tasks or errands
- 44% use the time for rest or sleep
- 37% spend more time on lesson planning
- 33% use the time for exercise or hobbies
Why Teachers Work Weekends and How It Affects Retention
- 74% of teachers who work weekends say their required tasks do not fit into their contracted working hours
- 62% of teachers who work weekends say they could not do their job to the expected standard without weekend work
- 60% of teachers who work weekends feel pressure to respond to students or families outside their contracted hours
- 51% of teachers who work weekends feel pressure from school leadership to remain available outside contracted hours
- 54% of teachers say their weekend workload has made them consider leaving the teaching profession
Methodology
On behalf of ACE, Fractl surveyed 582 currently employed K–12 classroom teachers in the U.S. Respondents were 54% millennials, 25% Gen X, 18% Gen Z and 3% baby boomers; 75% identified as women, 24% as men and 1% as non-binary. By grade levels, 43% taught elementary school, 32% high school and 25% middle school. By years of teaching experience, 16% had 0 to 3 years, 39% had 4 to 10 years, 24% had 11 to 20 years and 20% had 21 or more years. Percentages may not add to 100 due to rounding. Survey data was collected in October 2026. Respondents were recruited through an online research panel. Results have a margin of error of approximately ±3 percentage points.
About American College of Education
American College of Education (ACE) is an accredited, fully online college specializing in high-quality, affordable programs in education, business, healthcare and nursing. Headquartered in Indianapolis, ACE offers more than 60 innovative and engaging programs for adult students to pursue a doctorate, specialist, master’s or bachelor’s degree, along with graduate-level certificate programs.
Fair Use Statement
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