ܲAVƵand Day of AI Launch National Leadership & Innovation Fellowship Focused on AI and the Future of Learning

March 19, 2026

School superintendents will mentor high-school students from across the country at a three-day workshop in Boston, MA in July to create a National AI Policy for the responsible, productive, and ethical use of AI in public schools.  

 

Alexandria, VA — AASA, ܲAVƵ, in partnership with and MIT RAISE born out of the MIT Media Lab, is launching the 2026 Leadership & Innovation Fellowship, a new national professional learning opportunity designed to support school leaders and K-12 students as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in public education.  

 

The Fellowship brings together 50 superintendents and 100 high-school-aged student leaders from across the country for an immersive experience taking place in Boston, Massachusetts in July 2026 focused on ethical AI use, systems-level leadership, policy, and the future of AI teaching and learning.   

 

Every state will have a designated superintendent who will attend the event, and they will each select and send two high-school “student senators” who will debate different aspects of AI. All 50 states will be represented, ensuring broad geographic participation and diverse district perspectives from across the country. School districts were chosen by AASA’s Governing Board in February 2026, during the  (NCE).   

 

“AI is changing education, and it’s essential that leaders and students help shape what comes next, together,” said David R. Schuler, Executive Director of AASA. “This Fellowship creates the space to engage thoughtfully with emerging technologies while staying grounded in learning, ethics, and community.”  

 

“AI is impacting every field and area of society, and nowhere is the potential for disruption greater than in education,” said Dr. Cynthia Breazeal, Director of MIT RAISE and a member of the Time 100 AI 2025 list of the 100 most important people in AI. “Our teams at MIT RAISE and Day of AI are grateful to have a collaborator and thought leader such as ܲAVƵworking with us to convene a one-of-a-kind gathering of leading educator and student voices in Cambridge and Boston this upcoming July.”  

 

Boston Residency: AI and the Future of Learning  

At the core of the Fellowship is a fully funded, three-day leadership residency in Boston, Massachusetts, taking place from July 17–19, 2026, alongside the  during the nation’s 250th anniversary celebration.  

 

The residency is structured as a workgroup convening—not a traditional conference—bringing together superintendents, researchers, policymakers, and students to explore how AI can be integrated responsibly and equitably into K–12 systems.  

 

Participants will:  

 

  • Engage directly with researchers from MIT RAISE to examine how AI is being applied in innovative school systems.  
      

  • Participate in policy-focused sessions at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston, Massachusetts to explore the connection between classroom innovation and national decision-making. The Edward M. Kennedy Institute includes an exact replica of the U.S. Senate chamber.  
      

  • Elevate the student voice with two high school “Student Senators” from every state who will take part in a legislative simulation at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, with the goal of creating a comprehensive National AI Policy for K-12 students that will outline principles for the responsible, productive and ethical use of AI in public schools.  

 

“The next revolution in education will be shaped by artificial intelligence, and our students must help lead it,” said Jeffrey Riley, former Massachusetts Education Commissioner and Executive Director of Day of AI.  “Ensuring they are AI literate and equipped to use these tools safely and productively isn’t optional - it’s essential.”  

 

All travel, lodging, and meals for participating leaders and student delegates are fully covered, and the National AI Policy will be shared with AASA’s 10,000+ members, following the event.   

 

Leadership, Ethics, and Student Voice  

The Fellowship is grounded in the belief that the future of AI in education must be shaped by educators and students—not technology alone. By pairing district leaders with students in meaningful civic and policy experiences, the program emphasizes ethical leadership, real-world learning, and long-term system impact.  

 

Additional details, including participation information, will be released in the coming months.    

 

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ܲAVƵ   

AASA, ܲAVƵ, founded in 1865, is the premier association for school system leaders and serves as the national voice for public education and district leadership on Capitol Hill. A professional community of more than 10,000 educational leaders, ܲAVƵand its members are committed to providing high-quality public education to all students. For more information, visit .   

 

About Day of AI  

Started in 2021 through MIT’s RAISE (“Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education”) initiative, Day of AI enables K-12 students, families, and educators to thrive in the age of AI. Day of AI became a stand-alone nonprofit in 2024, while still working closely with MIT’s best-in-class team of researchers. Day of AI’s mission is to equip educators around the world with the knowledge and tools to integrate AI responsibly into their classrooms, through a free curriculum available at dayofai.org.   

 

Contacts:  

AASA, The School Superintendent Association – Lara Wade, Director of Communications  

(813) 833-1498, lwade@aasa.org  

 

Day of AI – Dan Rea, Head of Strategy and Development  

(508) 451-0193, dan@dayofai.org