The University of Florida is leading a new statewide K-12 AI Education Task Force, which aims to provide educators with coordinated guidance for teaching and learning with artificial intelligence (AI).
The initiative, according to officials, is part of the university’s AI education efforts and supported by a $5 million gift from Griffin Catalyst that created the university’s CS Everyone Center for Computer Science Education, which leads the task force effort.
“AI integration is happening rapidly across school districts, and there is little guidance to support these efforts,” said Maya Israel, director of the CS Everyone Center. “Our approach of being community-driven for Florida by Florida, I believe, is unique.”
The task force now includes 250 members – educators, technologists, and policymakers – from 39 school districts, five charter schools, eight industry partners, 14 education associations, and five higher education institutions, according to the university.
Officials explained that the effort grew out of conversations that began in spring 2024, when Florida district leaders approached the state’s commissioner of education seeking clearer direction on AI use in schools, according to a longer account published by Florida Gator Magazine.
Building on that early momentum, the Florida K–12 AI Education Task Force announced at the end of September that it had been selected to join the EDSAFE AI Alliance Policy Labs, a national network that unites states and school districts to collaborate on integrating AI into K–12 education.
Jennifer Womble, chair of the Future of Education Technology Conference and a member of the task force, said that there’s an urgent national need in K-12 education to implement AI-related training and professional development for teachers and administrators.
“Our goal is to empower students to leverage AI, whether it’s building a business or being more effective in their personal life or being more effective in their day-to-day life,” Womble said. “We want them to be the producers of new products, the producers of new ways of helping people connect, of helping people learn and grow and run businesses.”
The task force conducts monthly webinars, and their conversations are open to the public. Those who would like to join a webinar, help with AI resource development, or provide feedback on the current guidance can reach out to the CS Everyone Center.
Looking ahead, the task force is consulting with experts to expand its guidance on student privacy and data interoperability at the request of the Florida Department of Education, according to the magazine report.
