Artificial intelligence can reshape K12 teaching and learning. We help funders and education leaders design coherent K12 AI strategies, policies and implementation plans grounded in real problems and solutions–not tools. Using our AI x Coherence Framework, we guide leadership teams to innovate responsibly, protect and advance equity and strengthen instruction by centering students, augmenting teacher capacity, and building clear guardrails, decisionmaking processes and sustainable supports.
This guide distills lessons from the AI x Coherence Academy to move from “AI overwhelm” to coherent AI strategy. It offers expert guidance for responsible AI adoption and practical tools to clarify problems, assess readiness, define high-value use cases and launch generative AI pilots.
This report synthesizes insights from district and network Academy participants: how system leaders define high-value AI use cases, strengthen instructional alignment and make coherent adoption decisions. Funders will find opportunities to support AI readiness, cross-district learning and responsible AI use.
We partnered with Chicago Public Schools to co-design an AI Exploration Rubric that helps leaders determine when and how to use AI. The tool supports thoughtful evaluation of instructional value, equity implications, AI governance, data privacy and alignment to district priorities.
Education First is collaborating with the Center for Reinventing Public Education (CRPE) and the Gates Foundation on a multi-year effort to help Washington school districts develop responsible AI strategies for data modernization. Through a statewide cohort, pilot projects and new guidance tools, we help leaders strengthen interoperability, governance, AI readiness, and statewide AI strategy and ecosystem alignment.
Education First is working with the Hawai’i DOE as it develops AI-powered tools to support teachers’ use of culturally-responsive performance assessment practices. We are leading rapid-cycle co-design workshops with users across diverse communities within the state, collaboratively developing tools that will be rolled out statewide and used to support both classroom-based practices as well as to inform the use of AI-powered tools within Hawai’i’s broader assessment system in ways that strengthen instructional coherence and honor the state’s cultural context and knowledge systems.
With support from the Chan-Zuckerberg Initiative, we convened and coached 11 school districts and charter networks to develop coherent strategies for AI-supported teaching and learning. Using our AI x Coherence Framework, school systems decided what problems AI can help them solve and learned how to lead short-term design sprints. Educators and system leaders conducted due diligence on tools, shifted mindsets and moved from trial and error and into disciplined processes and decisionmaking.
We design K12 AI strategies that strengthen instruction and reduce fragmentation. With AI x Coherence Framework, we support AI policy development, governance, use-case design and implementation planning. The result: Less vendor noise and more AI clarity, ethical guardrails and confidence.
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