In a landmark move aimed at reshaping AI education in schools, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic have partnered with major U.S. teachers’ unions to launch a National Academy for AI Instruction—a five-year, $23 million initiative to provide large-scale AI training for K–12 educators.
The initiative, announced July 8, was developed in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and the United Federation of Teachers (UFT) and aims to train over 400,000 teachers—approximately 10% of the U.S. teaching workforce. As Forbes revealed, the academy is designed to ensure that educators are not only equipped with practical skills to use AI tools, but are also central to discussions about how AI is integrated into classrooms responsibly and ethically.
According to OpenAI’s announcement on July 8, the National Academy for AI Instruction will provide:
The first physical campus is set to open in New York City by fall 2025, with plans to scale nationally by 2030. Training modules will be developed with input from teachers, AI experts, and education researchers.
“We’re excited to support the AFT’s efforts to ensure that educators have the resources they need to bring AI into the classroom responsibly and creatively,” said Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI.
The academy’s foundational principle is to ensure that teachers are not passive recipients of AI tools but are leaders in their development and implementation.
“Educators need to be at the heart of AI’s integration into the classroom,” said UFT President Michael Mulgrew. “This academy ensures they will be.”
Mulgrew added that this initiative marks a shift from technologies being “weaponized against educators” to empowering them to “train their AI and incorporate it into their instructional planning,” ultimately giving them more time for individualized student support.
As Dan Fitzpatrick reported for Forbes, OpenAI is contributing $10 million to the project, which includes $8 million in funding and $2 million in in-kind resources such as API credits and engineering support. Microsoft is covering the majority of the remaining costs, and Anthropic is expected to provide $500,000 in funding during the first year.
The initiative represents the first large-scale, union-led AI training program supported directly by the companies developing the technologies themselves.
The demand for AI-related professional learning is growing rapidly. According to an April 2025 report by RAND Corporation, 48% of U.S. school districts provided AI training to teachers in the 2023–24 school year—up from just 23% the year before.
Teachers who received training reported time savings of up to six hours per week, allowing for more focus on instruction and student engagement, yet they also expressed concerns about ethics, student dependency, and data use—issues the academy seeks to address directly.
Though this initiative is U.S.-based, its design and scope may offer a blueprint for Canadian education leaders.
Key takeaways for Canadian K–12 stakeholders:
With AI use rising in schools and a growing need for clear policy, Canada has an opportunity to build on this model with localized, bilingual, and curriculum-aligned programs.
The first teacher cohorts in New York will begin training in fall 2025. Outcomes from this pilot year—including teacher feedback, changes in instructional practice, and student outcomes—will likely shape the academy’s national rollout and could inform potential Canadian adaptations.
As AI continues to evolve, the National Academy for AI Instruction offers a structured, educator-first approach that balances innovation with pedagogy, safety, and equity.
Sources:
Engaged Learning will continue to track developments in AI and professional learning for educators. If you know of similar initiatives happening in your school, get in touch!
If you are subscribed, log in to access exclusive member content!