OpenAI and AFT have partnered to launch a five-year plan to train 400,000 teachers to lead AI teaching

OpenAI recently announced a partnership with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) to jointly launch the five-year National AI Institute for Educators program, which aims to provide 400,000 K-12 educators (about 1 in 10 teachers in the United States) with the ability to use artificial intelligence and lead the use and teaching of artificial intelligence in classrooms across the country.

As the first partner to pledge support, OpenAI will invest $10 million over five years, including $8 million in direct funding and $2 million in in-kind resources, including engineering support, computing access, and technical guidance, to help teachers build and use AI tools in actual classrooms. OpenAI joins forces with the United Federation of Teachers, Microsoft, and Anthropic to support the program. And said the common goal is simple: to support teachers in shaping, applying, and guiding the development of AI in K-12 education.

These investments will help establish a flagship facility in New York City and support the establishment of more centers across the United States by 2030. The Academy will be a national hub for free training and curriculum that combines real-world classroom experiences with cutting-edge technology. The Academy will also fund and provide professional development opportunities that prioritize equity, accessibility, and measurable impact in K-12 education.

Over the next five years, the Academy will:

Support more than 400,000 educators across the U.S. to increase practical AI fluency by 2030

Offer workshops, online courses, and hands-on training sessions

Prioritize broad access and tangible benefits, especially in high-need school districts

Establish a flagship campus in New York City and expand nationwide

Through OpenAI’s support, educators and curriculum developers will receive:

Priority access to OpenAI’s technology and future educational tools

Tokens and API credits to build customized, classroom-specific tools to support educators

Technical support to integrate AI tools into the Academy’s learning platform and school learning systems