of workers' core job skills are expected to change by 2030 as AI reshapes the labor market. Today's 4th graders will graduate into that market.
World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025The case for acting now
Why this can't wait
Not hype — here's what national research says about the gap between how fast AI is moving and how ready schools are.
of students already used AI for schoolwork in 2025 — yet only 35% of districts provide students any AI training. Use is outrunning guidance.
RAND Corporation, AI Use in Schools Is Quickly Increasing but Guidance Lags Behind (2025)of principals report having any school or district policy or guidance on AI use — meaning most schools are improvising on academic integrity.
RAND Corporation, spring 2025 survey panelsLow-poverty districts trained teachers on AI at nearly twice the rate of high-poverty districts in fall 2024. Without deliberate action, AI widens the divide our program exists to close.
RAND Corporation, American School District Panel (2025)Sources: WEF Future of Jobs Report 2025 (weforum.org); RAND AI Use in Schools Is Quickly Increasing but Guidance Lags Behind, RR-A4180-1 (rand.org, 2025); RAND More Districts Are Training Teachers on Artificial Intelligence, RR-A956-31 (rand.org, 2025).
~5 minutes
AI Readiness Radar
Rate your school across five dimensions (1 = not started, 5 = fully in place). We'll chart your profile and recommend where to start.
Infrastructure
Policy & Governance
Budget & Resources
Staff Capacity
Culture & Community
Your readiness profile
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3 minutes · Practice safely
Decision Simulator
A real scenario from a principal's inbox. Choose a response and see the likely consequences before you face it for real.
Scenario: The AI essay
A 10th-grade English teacher emails you: "I'm certain a student used AI to write their entire essay. Our handbook doesn't mention AI anywhere. The student denies it, and the parents are asking for a meeting tomorrow morning. What should I do?"
How do you respond?
Field-tested
Copy my playbook
Start with what actually happened in our Baltimore pilot, then explore common scenarios for other starting points.
The Baltimore Pilot (2025–26)
12 schools + 2 public libraries · Title I primary sites · Funded by MCCE
ChallengeTechnology audits found libraries rarely had enough devices for full groups, schools couldn't guarantee 1:1 devices, internet varied by site, and student mobility under school-choice policies disrupted skill-building (about 50% of participating students were affected by transfers).
MoveInstead of shrinking the project, we redesigned the curriculum offline-first — printable materials, scripted facilitator guides, screen-free activities — and procured Sphero Indi robots, tablets, mBots, and mobile hotspots to close remaining gaps. Any classroom teacher or librarian could lead after a short orientation.
OutcomeStudent AI comprehension rose 47 percentage points pre/post (38% → 85%). Engagement rated 4/4 in hands-on activities. 80% of stakeholders found the model adaptable for future lessons; 78% said culturally responsive design improved access.
LessonMeaningful AI learning does not require advanced technology. It requires intentional design, culturally relevant content, and community partnerships — schools and libraries together extend learning beyond the school day.
The No-Budget Start
Small elementary school · No dedicated funding
ChallengeZero budget, skeptical staff, aging devices.
MoveStart with free tools and offline-first units (ours are open). Recruit two volunteer teacher-champions and pilot in a single grade band before scaling.
OutcomeA working pilot inside one semester, and evidence to bring to the board for next year's budget.
The Policy-First District
Mid-size district · Board pressure after an AI incident
ChallengeAn AI cheating controversy hit the local paper before any policy existed.
MoveRun a 30-day policy sprint with teachers, students, and families at the table. Adopt guidance that distinguishes AI as a learning tool from AI as a substitute for learning.
OutcomeClear expectations, consistent enforcement, and a board that trusts the process instead of reacting to headlines.
Grab and adapt
Policy templates
Seven documents every AI-ready school eventually needs. Adapt them to your context — all free, all editable.
- Download ↗
AI Acceptable Use Policy
Defines permitted and prohibited AI use for students and staff, by grade band.
- Download ↗
Academic Integrity Addendum
Updates your honor code for the AI era — including guidance on detection tools' limits.
- Download ↗
Student Data Privacy Checklist
Vetting questions for any AI tool before it touches student data (FERPA/COPPA aware).
- Download ↗
Family FAQ & Communication Pack
Plain-language letters and FAQ explaining your school's AI approach to families.
- Download ↗
Staff PD Planning Guide
A ready-made structure modeled on our 25-hour, five-module Fellows program.
- Download ↗
Board Presentation Deck
A customizable slide deck making the evidence-based case for AI literacy investment.
- Download ↗
Evaluation Toolkit
Our actual pre/post assessments, six-domain observation rubric, and stakeholder surveys — reusable for your own program evaluation and grant reporting.
Your first year
The 12-month roadmap
Four phases from zero to a sustainable AI education program — the same arc our pilot followed.
Listen & Audit
Months 1–3
Run the Readiness Radar with your leadership team. Audit devices and connectivity site by site (this reshaped our whole pilot). Survey staff attitudes. Identify 2–3 teacher champions.
Policy & Pilot
Months 4–6
Adopt an acceptable-use policy and integrity addendum with stakeholder input. Launch a small pilot in one grade band using offline-first units — don't wait for perfect infrastructure.
Train & Expand
Months 7–9
Enroll teachers in structured PD (our five-module model is open). Expand the pilot to more classrooms. Collect pre/post data with the evaluation toolkit so you can prove impact.
Showcase & Sustain
Months 10–12
Host a showcase for families and the board. Formalize a train-the-trainer pathway so the program outlives any single champion, grant, or vendor. Plan year two with your data.