AI Education Initiative Expands in Georgia Middle Schools with Support from NSF and Google

A statewide initiative to bring artificial intelligence (AI) education into Georgia’s middle school classrooms is gaining traction, thanks to a multi-institutional partnership and support from the National Science Foundation and Google.

The Artificial Intelligence for Georgia (AI4GA) project, launched in 2021, is reshaping how students across the state learn about AI. The initiative involves 15 school districts, including Muscogee County, and has reached more than 1,600 students with hands-on, curriculum-based instruction in artificial intelligence concepts.

Led by a consortium of education and research institutions — including Georgia Tech, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Florida, Boston College, and others — AI4GA focuses on building teacher capacity and making AI more accessible to historically underrepresented students, including African American, Latino, and rural populations.

“Teaching AI across the K–12 spectrum is crucial for preparing students for a future where AI literacy will be a fundamental skill,” said Dr. David Lewis, superintendent of Muscogee County School District. “This project also recognizes that educators are key in guiding students through the ethical, practical, and innovative uses of AI.”

Muscogee County has been an active participant in the program for three years, with teachers at Richards Middle School and Veterans Memorial Middle School integrating AI-focused content into the classroom. Teachers are trained in AI’s “Five Big Ideas” and supported through ongoing professional development, including online micro-courses.

“This work is critical,” said Victoria Thomas, senior director of CTAE, STEAM and Robotics for the district. “Artificial intelligence is developing at such a frantic pace. We’re fortunate to have teachers willing to take risks and blaze a trail for others.”

Last week, Muscogee educators Christi Scarbrough and Lynn Hall-Green co-facilitated a professional learning session at Georgia Tech, helping more than 40 educators from Georgia, Florida, and New York better understand and implement AI instruction. Their leadership, officials said, reflects the caliber of teaching talent in the district.

The initiative includes a nine-week elective course titled Living and Working with Artificial Intelligence, which gives students practical experience with AI applications and encourages exploration of AI-driven careers. One popular classroom resource developed through AI4GA is a set of AI Career Cards, which illustrate diverse career paths involving AI technology.

Bryan Cox, co-principal investigator and research faculty at Georgia Tech, said the project is designed to build AI literacy in communities often left behind by technological shifts. “We’re using AI4GA as a springboard to contextualize the need for AI literacy in populations that have the potential to be negatively impacted by AI agents,” Cox said.

Central to the effort is a co-design model that allows educators to collaborate with university researchers in creating curriculum that fits their students' needs. “AI is relevant across subjects, and [teachers] need the confidence to integrate it,” said Scarbrough.

As the initiative continues to grow, AI4GA is expanding its teacher leadership network to other states, including Texas, with an eye toward national impact.

For more information on the project, visit ai4ga.org.