Free ChatGPT is coming for teachers - OpenAI looks to spread influence of its chatbot into schools (www.techradar.com)

OpenAI has launched "ChatGPT for Teachers," a free workspace for verified US K–12 educators (via SheerID) that provides unlimited access to GPT-5.1 Auto through June 2027. The offering bundles file uploads, image generation, memory, search, app connectors, Study Mode, and collaborative features like shared chats, co-planning and custom GPTs for lesson templates. The product targets schools and districts with role-based access, SAML SSO and centralized domain controls, and claims FERPA compliance — notably, content in the teacher workspace is not used to train OpenAI models by default. OpenAI is also embedding LLM-driven material generation and step-by-step student guidance, plus examples and integrations informed by partnerships with the American Federation of Teachers and several education ministries. For the AI/ML community this is both a productization and deployment milestone: it pushes a state-of-the-art model (GPT-5.1 Auto) into a regulated, high-impact vertical at scale, accelerating real-world usage patterns and feedback loops. Key technical implications include stricter data governance models (opt-outs for training), federated-style deployment considerations for schools, and expanded datasets of teacher-generated prompts and examples that could shape future educational capabilities. The program highlights opportunities — and responsibilities — for research into safety, bias, personalization, and measurable learning outcomes as generative models become part of mainstream pedagogy.