Education Dept. prizes AI

The U.S. Education Department has finalized a rule that lets grant competitions give extra weight to artificial intelligence projects starting May 13. (federalregister.gov) The rule, published April 13 in the Federal Register, creates one department-wide supplemental priority for “advancing artificial intelligence in education” that can be used across discretionary grant programs. (federalregister.gov) The department said applications can be favored if they expand understanding of artificial intelligence or its “appropriate and ethical use” in schools and colleges. K-12 examples listed by the department and by K-12 Dive include artificial intelligence literacy, teacher training, dual-enrollment pathways, special education supports, tutoring, and tools that cut administrative work. (federalregister.gov) (k12dive.com) Discretionary grants are the federal programs agencies award through competitions, not automatic formula funding. A supplemental priority does not create new money by itself, but it changes which proposals look stronger when the department writes future notices inviting applications. (federalregister.gov) That gives school districts, colleges, nonprofits, and education vendors a new planning signal as they build grant proposals for 2026 and beyond. K-12 Dive reported that applicants are likely to shape projects around artificial intelligence to stay competitive for federal awards. (k12dive.com) The final rule grows out of a July 21, 2025 proposal and guidance letter from the department telling grantees that existing federal funds could already support artificial intelligence uses such as curriculum tools, tutoring, and college-and-career advising if programs met federal requirements. (ed.gov) (federalregister.gov) That 2025 push followed President Donald Trump’s April 23, 2025 executive order, “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” which directed federal agencies to expand artificial intelligence education and workforce pathways. (whitehouse.gov) The department said more than 300 parties commented on the proposal before it was finalized. Some education technology groups asked for a separate funding stream for artificial intelligence initiatives, but the department did not add one in the final rule. (federalregister.gov) (k12dive.com) Keith Krueger, chief executive of the Consortium for School Networking, said in comments on the proposal that his group backed the focus on educator training, artificial intelligence literacy, and instructional integration. The same organization had warned in March 2025 that cuts to the department’s Office of Educational Technology and school cybersecurity support could weaken federal guidance for districts adopting new tools. (k12dive.com) (cosn.org) The new rule leaves the money where it was but shifts the scoring logic around it. For applicants chasing competitive federal grants, artificial intelligence is now written into the criteria the department can use to pick winners. (federalregister.gov)