Amazon expands AI education support to 18 partners, reaching nearly 500,000 students
Amazon has expanded its support for AI education across seven U.S. regions, backing 18 partners-school districts, charter networks, individual schools, and a state education service center. The investment grew to $800,000 through a partnership with education nonprofit PlayLab, after demand exceeded the initial pilot scope.
Educators will get hands-on training and access to custom AI tools. Students will design AI-powered solutions to real problems in their communities, building practical skills they can use right away.
Why this matters for educators
The program focuses on learning outcomes, not tech for tech's sake. Districts receive support that adapts to their goals and readiness-whether that means educator professional development, student innovation projects, or district-wide adoption strategies.
"The strong response from school districts showed us how many educators are ready to bring AI into the classroom to help students build skills for the future," said Bettina Stix, Amazon's global director of community impact. "By expanding this program, we're helping nearly half a million students access AI education while supporting teachers as they integrate these tools into daily learning."
"Together with Amazon, we're meeting districts where they are," said Hilah Barbot, head of strategic partnerships at PlayLab. "It gives educators and students the space to experiment with AI in meaningful ways, building skills that are relevant today while preparing for what's next."
What districts and schools receive
- Custom AI tools for teachers and students in the PlayLab learning environment
- Hands-on training and implementation support
- Flexible models: PD for educators, student innovation sprints, or district-wide plans aligned to local priorities
Early activity across partners
- Fairfax County Public Schools (VA) is scaling participation to reach all high school students.
- In Washington, DC, Amazon and PlayLab hosted a two-day workshop with 60 students from Friendship Charter Schools to build and test AI solutions to community challenges.
- Other partners are focusing on professional learning, student project-based work, and district strategy.
Program reach
Through Amazon Future Engineer, the initiative now supports 18 educational partners across seven regions.
Public school districts
- Fairfax County Public Schools (VA)
- Alexandria City Public Schools (VA)
- Bellevue School District (WA)
- Renton School District (WA)
- Metro Nashville Public Schools (TN)
- Evanston Township High School District (IL)
- District of Columbia Public Schools (DC)
Charter networks and schools
- KIPP DC (DC)
- Friendship Charter Schools (DC)
- Distinctive Schools (IL)
- Intrinsic Schools (IL)
- KIPP Atlanta (GA)
- Kingsman Academy (DC)
- Center City Public Charter School (DC)
- Washington Leadership Academy (DC)
- Nashville Classical (TN)
- Charles R. Drew Charter School (GA)
State-level education service center
- Learning Technology Center of Illinois (IL)
Connected to national AI education commitments
This initiative builds on a broader commitment to expand AI learning nationwide: support for AI skills training for 4 million U.S. learners and enabling AI curricula for 10,000 educators by 2028. It includes up to $30 million in AWS promotional credits and $1.5 million in cash prizes for student winners of the Presidential AI Challenge.
For context on federal guidance and opportunities, see the U.S. Department of Education's resources on AI in teaching and learning at tech.ed.gov/ai and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy updates at whitehouse.gov/ostp.
Practical next steps for your school or district
- Set clear learning outcomes: what skills should students and teachers build with AI this year?
- Pick a focused pilot: one grade band or course (e.g., middle school science, high school ELA, CTE pathways).
- Create light-touch guardrails: acceptable use, data privacy, and guidance on academic integrity.
- Schedule PD in cycles: short workshops, classroom tryouts, share-back sessions, and artifacts.
- Anchor student work in local challenges to boost relevance and community buy-in.
- Measure what matters: student artifacts, teacher workload impact, and equity of access.
- Communicate with families early: goals, safeguards, and ways to support learning at home.
If you're building educator capacity beyond the program, you can explore job-aligned AI learning paths here: Complete AI Training - Courses by Job.
At a glance: funding and reach
- Investment increased to $800,000 through the PlayLab partnership
- 18 educational partners across 7 U.S. regions
- Nearly 500,000 students reached
- By 2028: support for 4 million learners and 10,000 educators, plus up to $30 million in AWS credits and $1.5 million in student prizes
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