State and district leaders across15 states come together to ensure ethical, safe, and accountable AI deployment in K-12 schools
BROOKLYN, N.Y., Sept. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The EDSAFE AI Alliance, a project of InnovateEDU, announced the launch of its 2026–2027 District and State Policy Lab cohorts. Supported by a multi-year grant from Google.org, this expansion brings 14 new school districts and 8 state-level education organizations into a national community of practice dedicated to building clear, effective, and responsible artificial intelligence policies.
The EDSAFE AI Alliance Policy Lab network now encompasses 36 school districts and 15 states, directly impacting over 654,300 educators and millions of K-12 students across the United States.
School and state leaders face pressing questions regarding data privacy, civil rights, instructional efficacy, and ethics as generative AI rapidly reshapes the educational landscape. The Policy Lab network uses an open-science approach, prioritizing evidence-based decision-making to help education leaders move beyond reactive tech adoption toward proactive, governance-first implementation. Grounded in EDSAFE AI's SAFE Framework (Safety, Accountability, Fairness & Transparency, and Efficacy), participating labs co-design an open-access "policy stack." This includes acceptable use policies, parent communication guidelines, and ethical frameworks that districts can adapt nationwide.
"AI is moving faster than standard educational policy cycles can keep up with," said Erin Mote, CEO and Co-Founder of InnovateEDU. "Without clear guardrails, we risk leaving school systems to figure out safety, equity, and data security and privacy in isolation. Thanks to the generous support of Google.org, our Policy Labs bring state and district leaders together to co-design human-centered solutions."
Capacity is the single biggest bottleneck facing school districts and state-level education organizations as they attempt to govern emerging technology. The Policy Lab model acts as a force multiplier, bringing like-minded institutions together to problem-solve.
"The most beneficial part of participating in the EDSAFE AI Policy Labs is being able to have like-minded people come to the table so we can have these deep, rich discussions," said Kimberley Thompson-Hairston, Director of Media and Technology & PIO at Stoke County Schools. "The Policy Lab Network is a space where we can stay abreast of the latest developments, since AI is ever-changing."
"Instead of asking overburdened leaders to reinvent the wheel, we connect pioneering districts and state teams with expert networks and peer collaborators," said Andrea Claver, Project Manager at the EDSAFE AI Alliance. "Together, these new cohorts are turning high-level ethical principles into practical operational reality for their local communities."
The EDSAFE AI Alliance welcomes the following state entities and school districts, reflecting diverse communities, to the 2026 - 2027 Policy Lab Network:
State Policy Labs:
- Arizona: Arizona Institute for Education and the Economy at Northern Arizona University
- Illinois: Illinois State Board of Education
- Minnesota: SWWC Service Cooperative
- North Carolina: North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NCDPI)
- Oregon: Clackamas Education Service District
- Oregon: Multnomah Education Service District
- Texas: Educate Texas
- Vermont: Vermont Agency of Education
District Policy Labs:
- AOS #91 Bar Harbor (Bar Harbor, ME)
- Arlington Public Schools (Arlington, VA)
- Atlanta Public Schools (Atlanta, GA)
- Aurora Public Schools (Aurora, CO)
- Bayaan Academy (Temple Terrace, FL)
- Cape Elizabeth School Department (Cape Elizabeth, ME)
- Center Moriches School District (Center Moriches, NY)
- DREAM Charter Schools (New York, NY)
- Elite Academic Academy (Temecula, CA)
- Red Apple Education / Charter Schools USA (Fort Lauderdale, FL)
- Saddle River Day School (Saddle River, NJ)
- St. Cloud Area Schools - ISD742 (St. Cloud, MN)
- Traverse City Area Public Schools (Traverse City, MI)
- Washington Leadership Academy (Washington, D.C.)
To explore the full library of policy lab artifacts, view members from previous cohorts, or access the self-paced Policy Essentials course, visit www.edsafeai.org/policylabs.
About the EDSAFE AI Alliance
The EDSAFE AI Alliance, a project of InnovateEDU, uses the SAFE Benchmarks Framework to align stakeholders toward equitable outcomes for learners and better environments for educators. The SAFE benchmarks transform disparate efforts into a unified path for safe, ethical progress by providing targeted guidance and guardrails.
About Google.org
Google.org, Google's philanthropy, supports non-profits addressing humanitarian issues and applying scalable data and technology to solve complex societal challenges.
Media Contact
Jessica Duff, InnovateEDU, 1 501-319-4901, [email protected], www.innovateedunyc.org
SOURCE InnovateEDU
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