Day of AI Announces New Partnership Bringing AI Literacy to 5,000 Maryland Public School Students

Cambridge, MA, and Baltimore, MD - Day of AI, a leading education non-profit started at MIT’s RAISE (Responsible AI for Social Empowerment and Education) initiative, is excited to announce a new partnership with one of Maryland's largest Local Education Agencies (LEA) to launch an elementary school AI literacy pilot serving more than 5,000 K-5 students across 12 schools in the region.

The program, in partnership with Tequity4All, a fiscally sponsored project of Digital Harbor Foundation, will equip 20 educators with training and tools to teach foundational AI concepts and host Family AI Literacy Nights focused on responsible technology use.

The educator cohort, which began its training earlier this month, includes classroom teachers from kindergarten through fifth grade, as well as library media specialists, technology teachers, and instructional coaches.  Teachers will receive free professional development, a stipend, research-based curriculum, and hands-on support from a local AI facilitator, including training on using Day of AI and Common Sense Media's Family AI Literacy Toolkit.

“Maryland is helping lead a national shift in how AI is taught as a civic and ethical literacy,” said Tim Dixon, Day of AI facilitator.

“These teachers are preparing young learners and families to understand AI, question it, and shape its future,” said Kathy Benson, Tequity4All Program Director.

The pilot focuses on schools with significant economic needs and racial diversity:

• 75% of participating schools (9 out of 12) are Title I
• In those schools, 60% or more students qualify for free/reduced-price meals
• Across participating schools, 61% of students are Black, Hispanic, or multiracial

By bringing AI literacy to elementary classrooms and homes, the partnership aims to reduce emerging gaps in digital awareness, ensuring that all students, not just those with access to advanced technology, can influence how AI shapes their lives.

Educators are completing a four-hour training program on foundational AI literacy, offered free of charge.  They will then be able to deliver AI literacy lessons and lead community discussions that make AI understandable, ethical, and accessible for families, with Family AI Literacy Nights planned for each participating school.  The program will be implemented from this month through April 2026.

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.

About MIT RAISE: The MIT RAISE Initiative (raise.mit.edu) empowers everyone to use AI responsibly, authentically, and with impact.  Its mission is to advance science and innovation of AI-enabled technologies, experiences, and global programs to deepen learning, spark creativity, and empower everyone to make a better world with AI.

About Tequity4All: Tequity4All (https://www.tequity4all.org/) is a social entrepreneur committed to revolutionizing computer science education for students in pre-Kindergarten through 8th grade in Maryland.  Tequity4All is committed to expanding participation in computer science, particularly among underrepresented groups.  The organization is building a coalition to incubate and innovate promising educational practices in robotics, physical computing, and responsible artificial intelligence.