Launched in November of 2022, the generative artificial intelligence tool ChatGPT garnered immediate societal interest and adoption as its advanced large language modeling proved capable of producing sophisticated, human-like responses to user-generated prompts. In this preliminary study, K-12 teachers in the United States were surveyed on their initial perceptions of—and responses to—the use and misuse of ChatGPT during the 2022–2023 school year. The results show that most teachers moderately understood the tool, but adoption was rare. Most educators did not use AI detection tools and had a neutral stance on the difficulty of detecting when a student used generative AI on an assignment without their aid. Response to the unethical use of AI by students was met in various ways, including discussion, reassessment, revision and disciplinary measures. Findings contribute to understanding educators’ reactions and responses to genAI and help inform responsible AI integration in educational settings.

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