Neumann University launches state-approved AI endorsement for teachers
Neumann University will offer a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved AI endorsement for K-12 teachers beginning next summer. The 12-credit program is fully online and can be completed in seven months across summer and fall semesters.
The endorsement responds to a gap many educators face. Teachers are encountering AI in classrooms without formal training or institutional guidance. The program gives them a credential tied to a state framework rather than ad hoc professional development.
Program structure and courses
Education Professor Laura McLaughlin, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and graduate education in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education, will teach courses in the program. The four required courses are Educational Leadership in the Age of Artificial Intelligence, Designing AI-Enhanced Learning Experiences, Ethical and Equitable Use of AI in School, and AI Leadership and Portfolio Practicum.
"Our teachers are already navigating AI every day, usually without a roadmap," McLaughlin said. "This endorsement was built on PDE's AI Endorsement Framework … We're preparing them to lead this shift, not just react to it."
The endorsement can also be taken as part of Neumann's MS in Ed: Teaching and Learning program. Teachers who complete it can add the endorsement to an existing Level I or Level II teaching certificate.
State context for endorsements
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, program endorsements "indicate knowledge in new and emerging areas where formal certification does not exist." They are designed to improve an educator's skills in dealing with complex educational issues. Other endorsement areas include autism and online learning.
McLaughlin has already tested this work in the classroom. In a special topics graduate course in summer 2025, she led a mix of elementary and secondary educators through an examination of how AI can support instruction, student learning, and decision-making.
Educators interested in structured training outside a degree program can also explore AI for Teachers Courses or broader resources on AI for Education.
How to enroll
To learn more about the Neumann AI endorsement, contact Amanda Small, enrollment coordinator for graduate admissions, at smalla@neumann.edu or visit www.neumann.edu/MSED.
Why this matters for educators
Pennsylvania teachers now have a credential path that signals AI competency to districts and hiring committees. The endorsement attaches to an existing certificate, which means it carries weight in evaluations, salary negotiations, and leadership applications without requiring a full master's degree. For teachers already using AI informally, this converts that experience into documented, state-recognized expertise.
Your membership also unlocks:
