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CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia public schools are preparing to launch a statewide artificial intelligence initiative designed to train students, teachers, principals and administrators on the effective use of AI tools.
West Virginia public schools are set to launch a comprehensive statewide artificial intelligence (AI) initiative. This program aims to train students, teachers, principals, and administrators on the effective and responsible use of AI tools, building upon previous state guidance released in 2024 by Superintendent Michele Blatt.
A key focus of this initiative is to educate both students and educators on how to responsibly utilize AI tools while ensuring the protection of student information. Superintendent Michele Blatt emphasized that the existing Microsoft-supported platform securely houses AI tools within K-12 firewalls and servers, addressing potential concerns about data privacy and external access.
Leveraging its long-standing partnership with Microsoft, West Virginia will expand access to AI tools, particularly Microsoft's AI assistant, Copilot. The current contract facilitates additional licenses, providing extensive resources and tools within the state's protected K-12 technology infrastructure. Microsoft is also committed to providing further support, including the development of dashboards to track student and educator progress.
The initiative features a structured credentialing system for students and educators. Students will have opportunities to earn credentials through programs such as Minecraft Education and Prodigy Learning. Educators will advance through tiered training levels, themed around exploration (e.g., 'Pioneer,' 'Trailblazer,' 'Ridge Climber'). Schools can also earn a 'Summit School Award' if at least 80% of their staff complete the required AI training, fostering widespread proficiency.
The implementation strategy for this initiative was developed by the state Department of Education team, including Cliff Sullivan and Adam Cantor. While still in draft form, the plan is being finalized in collaboration with partners such as Microsoft and Prodigy Learning. The overarching goal is to ensure that West Virginia students and educators are equipped with access to emerging technologies and receive the necessary training to use them effectively and responsibly in the educational environment.