President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order (EO) April 23 with the goal of encouraging the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in K-12 schools to boost student readiness for an AI-driven future. [USA Today]  

Why it Matters

The EO signals an aggressive push to position U.S. students as leaders in the global AI race. It focuses on scaling AI literacy among both students and teachers, at a time when most educators report receiving little to no formal training on AI tools or ethics. The move also reflects bipartisan concerns that American students risk falling behind countries like China, at a moment when Securly estimates that 24% of K-12 schools in the U.S. are actively blocking or filtering AI in classrooms.

The executive order directs multiple federal agencies to take action:

  • U.S. Department of Education: Prioritize discretionary grants for AI-related teacher training and student coursework.
  • U.S. Department of Labor: Expand AI-focused apprenticeships for high school students.
  • National Science Foundation (NSF): Fund research on the application of AI in classrooms.
  • Task Force on AI Education: A newly created White House group, led by Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios, will coordinate efforts and launch a “Presidential AI Challenge” to promote best practices.

The plan also calls for new public-private partnerships to support resource development for K-12 AI education.

What They’re Saying

“The executive order is a powerful affirmation of our mission: to bring computer science and artificial intelligence education to every school in the country. This moment marks a turning point, one that reflects how far our movement has come,” said Cameron Wilson, president of Code.org. “What began with a push for broader access to CS is now centered on preparing students to thrive in an AI-powered world. I’m proud of the work we’ve done together to reach this level of national support.”

“This executive order affirms what educators and policymakers are seeing across the country: AI literacy is no longer optional for preparing today’s students for the jobs of tomorrow,” said Josh Jones, founder and CEO of QuantHub. “In Alabama, state-level leadership has expanded access to AI education and positioned teachers as critical guides in this new learning landscape. As implementation moves forward, local momentum like we’re seeing in Alabama offers a compelling example of what’s possible when bold vision is matched by practical action.”

​​“The executive order presents a powerful opportunity, not just to expand access to AI education, but to reimagine how we teach it. We believe AI should be introduced in ways that foster creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking—not just consumption,” said Dr. Margaret Honey, president and CEO of Scratch Foundation. “As CS education evolves, we have a chance to center young learners’ voices, help them understand how AI works, and empower them to build a future where technology reflects their values, identities, and dreams.”

“Preparing students to thrive in an AI world means more than just giving them access to new tools—it means teaching them to use AI in ways that improve human creativity and efficiency,” said Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE+ASCD. “This executive order offers important momentum for making AI literacy a priority and equipping educators with the training they so urgently need to guide that learning in a meaningful and responsible way.”

“This executive order correctly recognizes the enormous and immediate potential AI holds for how and what we teach students,” said Tammy Wincup, CEO of Securly. “We should take the lessons we learned from other technology movements—Web 1.0, Cloud, social media—to ensure we roll out AI with student safety and wellness in mind from the beginning, not as an afterthought. Unlike other tech adoption, generative AI is not going to wait for the perfect K-12 implementation. We have to quickly start with the end student experience in mind.”

Challenges Ahead

Expertise at the Department of Education and related agencies has been hollowed out due to March’s large-scale reductions in force—including at ED’s Office of Educational Technology (OET), which provided guidance on AI to schools—making coordination and program design difficult. AI is advancing faster than education policy can adapt, schools face an overwhelming array of new products and limited guidance. Finally, without careful implementation, wealthier districts could advance faster, widening gaps for low-income and rural students.

What’s next: The White House Task Force will soon announce pilot programs and partnerships. School districts and state education agencies are awaiting detailed federal guidance on grants and professional development opportunities.