AI Integration Through CT Pathways: District-Led Strategies for Sustainable K-12 Innovation

• In Event: Bridging the AI Literacy Gap: Systems-Level Approaches to K-12 CS Education

Abstract

School districts play a pivotal role in sustaining and scaling innovation in AI education. However, while a growing body of research has explored classroom-level uses of AI tools, far fewer studies have examined district-level AI adoption. This is a critical gap because districts serve as conduits between policy and practice and can embed innovations into organizational routines. This study examines how six U.S. school districts, building on established K-12 CT pathways, developed capacity to implement AI education at scale. We draw on Coburn’s framework of depth, spread, shift in ownership, and sustainability to analyze how deeply AI initiatives became embedded in practice across districts. This research sheds light on strategies for scalable, coherent, and locally driven K-12 AI innovation.

Authors

• Sharin R. Jacob, Digital Promise Global

• Quinn Burke, Digital Promise