Teachers union wins $23m AI training

The American Federation of Teachers said on July 8 that it launched a $23 million AI training initiative with Microsoft, OpenAI, Anthropic and the United Federation of Teachers, creating a new National Academy for AI Instruction in New York. The union said the program will provide free AI training and curriculum to all 1.8 million AFT members, starting with K-12 educators. Microsoft is the lead partner, while OpenAI and Anthropic are founding partners, according to statements from the organizations. The effort has drawn attention because it pairs one of the largest U.S. teachers’ unions with major AI companies at a time when schools are still debating how, and whether, to use the tools in class. ### Which union actually got the money, and from whom? The American Federation of Teachers is the union behind the initiative. AFT said the $23 million backing comes from Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic, with the United Federation of Teachers serving as a partner on the launch. AFT describes itself as representing 1.8 million members across education, healthcare and public services. (aft.org) OpenAI said its role is part of a five-year effort to equip 400,000 K-12 educators — about one in 10 U.S. teachers, by its count — to use AI and help shape how it is taught in classrooms. Microsoft, in a parallel announcement, called the academy a national training effort for educators. (aft.org) ### What is the academy supposed to do for teachers? The National Academy for AI Instruction says it will offer online courses, in-person events and classroom resources focused on AI use in schools. AFT said the goal is to help teachers use AI “responsibly, ethically and effectively” in lesson planning and classroom work, while also giving educators a role in shaping how the technology is deployed. (news.microsoft.com) AFT’s overview document says the academy will operate from the United Federation of Teachers headquarters in Manhattan. The union says the site is intended as a hands-on center for training, policy labs and educator feedback on AI tools. ### Why did the union say it wanted this partnership? Randi Weingarten, the AFT president, said in the launch announcement that educators need to be involved in how AI enters schools rather than having the technology imposed on them. (aiinstruction.aft.org) AFT materials describe the project as an effort to keep teachers “at the center” of classroom AI and to press for tools that support instruction rather than replace educators. (aft.org) An AFT article published after the launch said teachers are trying to balance two concerns at once: preparing students for a workplace where AI tools may be common, and protecting reading, writing and critical thinking in the classroom. That article said those tensions were part of the reason the union created the academy with the technology companies. (aft.org) ### Why has the deal drawn scrutiny? The $23 million figure and the list of partners have raised questions about how much influence AI companies could gain in public-school training. The source materials reviewed for this story show the union framing the academy as educator-led, but they also show the companies presenting it as a way to expand AI skills and adoption in schools. (aft.org) St. Paul educators, in a separate AFT case study, negotiated contract language stating that human educators, not algorithms, must remain at the center of teaching and learning. That example illustrates the broader labor concern around classroom AI: teachers’ unions are trying to train members on the tools while also setting limits on how they are used. (aft.org) ### What happens next, and where can teachers find it? The National Academy for AI Instruction website says teachers can already access courses, events and resources through the academy’s online platform. AFT said the rollout begins with K-12 educators, and the Manhattan facility will serve as the in-person hub for future training. (aiinstruction.aft.org) (aft.org)