The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded $11 million to the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) to launch a nationwide AI training initiative for K-12 educators, addressing the gap between rapid AI adoption and classroom readiness. The funding will support Artificial Intelligence Professional Development Weeks, a multi-state program aimed at training thousands of teachers to deliver computer science and AI instruction at scale, aligning with the U.S. government’s push to expand AI education and workforce preparedness.
The initiative will run over two years in states including Indiana, South Carolina, Minnesota, New Jersey, Iowa, and Illinois, with more locations expected. It aims to support between 2,500 and 3,000 teachers, with an estimated downstream impact reaching up to 600,000 students. The program combines intensive summer training with ongoing support through local and state networks, emphasizing rapid development of teaching capacity while maintaining consistent instruction.
Participating teachers will gain knowledge of core computer science concepts such as data, algorithms, abstraction, and systems, while learning practical methods to integrate AI into classroom lessons. The program emphasizes helping educators design activities that allow students to use, evaluate, and build AI systems, moving beyond basic tool usage toward deeper understanding.
Brian Stone, performing the duties of NSF director, highlighted that AI is transforming every sector of the economy and that students must be prepared not just to use AI but to understand and create with it. He emphasized that the investment equips educators with tools to bring AI and computer science into classrooms, supporting the White House’s vision of the “Future of Intelligence.”
Jake Baskin, Executive Director of CSTA, noted that AI is entering classrooms faster than AI literacy, creating a growing gap. He emphasized that computer science provides the foundation students need to truly understand AI, and that the AI Professional Development Weeks program equips educators to foster deeper understanding, critical thinking, and meaningful creation among students.
The initiative includes a research component to track how teachers incorporate AI concepts, tools, and ethical considerations into instruction with structured professional learning. It also aligns with broader efforts to strengthen domestic AI capability by expanding the talent pipeline and embedding technical skills earlier in education, prioritizing foundational understanding at scale over merely adding AI tools to existing curricula.
The ETIH Innovation Awards 2026 are open to recognize education technology organizations delivering measurable impact across K–12, higher education, and lifelong learning, with submissions accepted from the UK, the Americas, and internationally, assessed on evidence of outcomes and real-world application.
