The AFT is an organization that represents 1.8 million pre-K through 12th-grade teachers and other education-related staff in the U.S. Today, the AFT announced the launch of the National Academy for AI Instruction, supported by Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic.
The National Academy for AI Instruction is a $23 million initiative that will offer free AI training and curriculum to all 1.8 million AFT members. It will also feature a state-of-the-art facility in Manhattan, NY, designed to transform how AI is taught in classrooms across the country.
"The academy will help address the gap in structured, accessible AI training and provide a national model for AI-integrated curriculum and teaching that puts educators in the driver’s seat," the AFT stated in its press release announcing the initiative.
The academy’s training program was developed by leading AI experts and experienced educators. It will include workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions. The academy will also offer ongoing support and resources to help educators stay current with the rapidly evolving field of AI.
Training is set to begin later this year, with plans to scale nationwide in the coming years. The goal is to support 400,000 educators—approximately 10 percent of the U.S. teaching workforce—over the next five years.
Brad Smith, vice chair and president of Microsoft, said:
“To best serve students, we must ensure teachers have a strong voice in the development and use of AI. This partnership will not only help teachers learn how to better use AI, it will give them the opportunity to tell tech companies how we can create AI that better serves kids.”
This partnership between a major teachers" union and leading AI companies marks a significant step toward integrating AI into school education.