Trump Signs Executive Order for AI Education in Schools

President Donald Trump signed an executive order to incorporate artificial intelligence into K-12 classrooms.

The order, called “Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth,” aims to equip the future workforce with “the foundational knowledge and skills necessary to adapt to and thrive in an increasingly digital society,” as well as build “the next generation of American AI innovators to propel our Nation to new heights of scientific and economic achievement.”

The order calls for the broad implementation of AI across the core curriculum to equip students with AI skills regardless of their career path. This approach aims to “ensure the United States remains a global leader in this technological revolution.”

The initiative focuses on providing AI education for kindergarten to twelfth grade (K-12) students to develop AI literacy and skills. Another crucial aspect is teaching educators how to leverage AI in their classrooms and providing them with the right tools to pass AI knowledge to their students.

Implementation will begin with establishing a White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education. This administration, led by Michael Kratsios, Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, and accompanied by key stakeholders, will establish benchmarks and prepare quarterly progress reports to ensure implementation success.

One key initiative is the “Presidential AI Challenge” – a nationwide competition where students and educators can show their AI skills. The Task Force must create and submit a plan for the Presidential AI Challenge within 90 days of the order’s release date.

The first Presidential AI Challenge must take place within 12 months of the plan’s submission. “The Challenge shall feature multiple age categories, distinct geographic regions for competition, and a variety of topical themes of competition to reflect the breadth of AI applications, encouraging interdisciplinary exploration,” the order reads.

The order also prompts the labor secretary to establish registered apprenticeships in the AI field to support strategic workforce development.

Furthermore, the order demands that federal agencies create standardized AI courses and programs that, after completion, provide high school students with proof that they have mastered specific AI skills. Employers would recognize these certificates, helping students lay a solid foundation for pursuing AI careers.

As AI becomes more prevalent, and as some believe the most important technology of the next century, experts call for a balance between technical AI skills, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence to ensure ethical and reasonable AI use.