aiEDU Opens 2026 Grants for Rural and Indigenous School Districts
The AI Education Project (aiEDU) is accepting applications for its 2026 Community Catalyst Program, offering grants up to $50,000 to school districts, educational service agencies, charter organizations, and nonprofits. Applications opened May 1, with letters of intent due May 21 and final awards announced July 3.
The 12-month grants, beginning summer 2026, target organizations serving rural and Indigenous communities. Recipients can choose from four support pathways: teacher professional development, district leadership capacity building, classroom integration, or curricular integration.
What Funded Projects Can Include
- Multi-session professional development
- Professional learning communities
- Train-the-trainer models
- Instructional coaching networks
- Districtwide AI implementation planning
2025 Program Results
Last year, aiEDU supported 21 organizations across 10 states, reaching 4,100 Indigenous and rural educators-a 71 percent increase from 2024. The program reached more than 213,000 Indigenous and rural students, nearly ten times the previous year's reach.
Grantees held 64 in-person events in Indigenous and rural communities, more than five times the 2024 total. Projects ranged from Tribal-led AI sovereignty initiatives to multi-district educator training models designed around local relevance and cultural grounding.
Alex Kotran, aiEDU's CEO, said: "As schools across the country navigate how to prepare students for an AI-driven future, meaningful progress depends on ensuring every community has a seat at the table."
For application details, visit aiedu.org/2026-catalyst.
Educators looking to build AI competency can explore AI Learning Path for Teachers or review resources on AI for Education.
Your membership also unlocks:
