(The Center Square) – Education Superintendent Mo Green, a first-term Democrat, is touting the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s new partnership with the national AI Innovation Index.
Green says the state is first in the nation to establish a statewide program in the initiative of AI For Equity. It also could put participating school districts at risk of losing federal dollars.
And it’s a step away from the direction of Republican lawmakers in Raleigh. Eliminating “DEI” in Public Education, known also as Senate Bill 227, was vetoed by first-term Democratic Gov. Josh Stein, got a 30-19 successful override in the Senate, and is awaiting a possible override vote in the House of Representatives that could make it law.
The state’s 115 school districts have an option to participate, purely voluntary. Looming in the outcome is how federal court litigations will ultimately shake out for second-term Republican President Donald Trump’s effort to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion from recipients of federal money through the U.S. Department of Education.
The legal challenges are ongoing.
While AI for Equity doesn’t present a formal statement endorsing DEI policies, the mission’s fundamental approach is consistent with them.
Education institutions and entities across the country are getting criticism for creativity to avoid the Trump administration goals. Those goals are also heavily criticized as well.
The AI Innovation Index cites 24 partners on its website, and 18 do have policies promoting diversity, equity and inclusion – known colloquially as DEI policies – or a narrative consistent with those policies, according to research by The Center Square.
The partners are AI Education Project; Charter School Growth Fund; the Play Lab; Transcend; Leading Educators; Education First; Relay Graduate School of Education; Common Sense; Hendy Avenue; Teaching Lab; Attuned Education Partners; The Opportunity Lab; Education Strategy Group; Strategic Education; Silicon Schools; LEAP Innovations; and Chiefs for Change.
Those believed to not have stated DEI policies include FullScale; International Futures; Throughline Learning; Student Achievement Partners; Ed3 DAO; and the Center on Reinventing Public Education. Equity is a focus of research with CRPE; diversity policies are reflected in statements and resources for SAP and for Ed3 DAO; and DEI is associated with FullScale’s related Full Sail University.
“This is an exciting step in North Carolina’s journey to having the best public schools in the nation,” Green said in a release. “NCDPI has been on the forefront of understanding and implementing artificial intelligence in education since its emergence, as have many of our schools and districts. Now, we will be able to measure that innovation and work toward achieving AI literacy for every student and staff member.”
Districts that do opt-in would have twice a year staff and student “pulse surveys,” and senior leaders would do a self-assessment on implementation of best practices.
The state Education Department’s release included a statement from Aaron Cuny, founder and CEO of AI for Equity, saying, “We believe that equipping school systems with concrete, actionable data is one of the most powerful levers for change. The Innovation Index helps districts see what’s working, where gaps exist, and how students are actually experiencing AI in their learning so every school can lead with purpose, and every student has the chance to thrive in a future shaped by AI.”
