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13 School and District Teams to Participate in Rural AI Strategy Lab

Key Takeaways

  • FullScale and All4Ed launched the Rural AI Strategy Lab: The six-month initiative brings together 13 school and district teams to explore, pilot, and implement AI in rural teaching and learning.
  • Participants will identify challenges, prototype AI approaches, and create tools and resources for rural schools and districts navigating AI adoption.
  • Insights will be shared broadly: FullScale said lessons from the program will support educators and leaders working at the intersection of AI and education.

K-12 education nonprofit FullScale, in partnership with nonprofit advocacy organization All4Ed, is bringing together 13 school and district teams to "collaboratively investigate how AI can thoughtfully be integrated into teaching and learning." The six-month initiative, called the Rural AI Strategy Lab, is designed to "support rural educators in exploring, piloting, and implementing artificial intelligence in ways that reflect their local priorities and community contexts," the organization said in a news announcement.

More than 100 school and district teams from 34 states applied for the program, with 13 chosen based on their "demonstrated commitment to students, communities, and innovative learning approaches." Participants will identify challenges, prototype locally relevant AI strategies, and develop tools and resources to support rural schools and districts navigating AI adoption, FullScale said. Insights from the program "will be shared broadly to support the growing community of educators and leaders working at the intersection of AI and education."

Participating schools and districts are:

  • Berkshire Hills Regional School District (MA)
  • Cape Flattery School District (WA)
  • Davenport School District (WA)
  • Elko County School District (NV)
  • Griswold Public Schools (CT)
  • Ionia County Career Center (MI)
  • Louisa County Public Schools (VA)
  • Martin County Schools (NC)
  • Mason County Eastern Schools (MI)
  • Mount Greylock Regional School District (MA)
  • Mohave Valley Elementary School District (AZ)
  • Pikeville Independent Schools (KY)
  • Polk County Schools (TN)

"Rural educators have been largely absent from the national conversation on AI — from tool development all the way to policy," said Dr. Beth Rabbitt, co-CEO of FullScale, in a statement. "The Rural AI Strategy Lab exists to change that. We are inspired by the deep commitment these systems bring to ensuring that AI is used in ways that truly serve their students and communities."

"As a former superintendent, I know firsthand the unique challenges and opportunities rural schools face. These 13 teams represent the ingenuity and dedication that defines rural education, and we are proud to support them as they help shape what responsible AI adoption looks like for communities like theirs," added Virgel Hammonds, co-CEO of FullScale.

"The educators in this cohort are doing something the broader field desperately needs: learning by doing, in real communities, with real students," commented Dr. Amy Loyd, CEO of All4Ed. "What they discover about what works, what doesn't, and what our rural schools actually need from AI won't just benefit their own classrooms. This work will help shape a more effective and equitable path forward for districts everywhere."

For more information, visit the FullScale site.

About the Author

Rhea Kelly is editor in chief for Campus Technology, THE Journal, and Spaces4Learning. She can be reached at [email protected].

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