K-12

Projects announced at the Pennsylvania Energy and Innovation Summit at Carnegie Mellon University this week included new workforce training programs as well as cybersecurity education for middle and high schoolers.

Broken Bow Public Schools fell victim to a sophisticated phishing scam in the form of an email containing false payment instructions that appeared to come from a trusted vendor in ongoing construction projects.

AI models are trained to optimize outputs, but in educating children, the process is the point. If we assess children only in terms of what can be “trained,” we repeat the mistake of emphasizing output over experience.

The exponential growth of data in the information age has not necessarily coincided with more effective education technology. Making the most of this data will require trust and conversation between multiple parties.

The complaint argues that the Constitution does not give the executive branch power "to unilaterally refuse to spend appropriations that were passed by both houses of Congress and were signed into law."

Funded by a grant from the Department of Defense, a cybersecurity camp in Texas allows students to take part in exercises that teach them about network security, the latest cybersecurity technologies and ethical hacking.

There are conflicting studies on the impacts of AI on education so far, and the outcome of the newly announced AI academy led by OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthropic will depend on what and how it teaches.

A new $23 million initiative by the American Federation of Teachers, OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthology aims to train 400,000 educators in ethical, effective use of AI in the classroom by 2030.

Facing staffing shortfalls and unable to renew contracts of many teachers who have been on emergency permits for multiple years, a school board in Indiana approved a one-year agreement for 41 virtual instructors.

High school participants in the New York Power Authority’s first paid cybersecurity fellowship program this summer received hands-on training and experience in cybersecurity in preparation for CompTIA A+ certification.

Starting this fall, every K-12 district in Missouri, including charter schools, will need a written policy prohibiting students from using personal devices during the school day, with some circumstantial exceptions.

Federal legislation signed into law this month rewrites student loan and grant policy with the goal of frugality, with critics warning it may push students toward loans and programs with fewer protections.

A new AI initiative being offered to 30 campuses in Pasco County this fall proposes to help teachers analyze student performance data, identify student questions and problems, and formulate responses.

Implemented several years before the rise of smartphones, the old policy was actually more strict, only making exceptions for high school students at lunch. They can now use devices in between classes as well.

In glossy AI advertisements bought by the billions of dollars tech companies are making off schools, the classroom is portrayed as a student-centered, personalized learning space. But is that truly what AI is creating?

There are pros and cons to homework, and school districts will have to decide their own stances on it. But teaching and expecting ethical responsibility from students should be a requirement at all educational institutions.

From vibe coding to homeschooling to academic support and personalization, artificial intelligence tools are powering new trends and possibilities for both teachers and students in schools across the state.

As the fast progression of AI raises both the stakes and urgency of professional development for teachers, education instructors have shared thoughts on what works — and what doesn't — to get them up to speed.