Expanding AI Career & Skilled Technical Workforce Opportunities Dear Colleague Letter

Expanding AI Career & Skilled Technical Workforce Opportunities Dear Colleague Letter is sponsored by National Science Foundation (NSF). This Dear Colleague Letter from NSF supports high school AI courses, certifications, and workforce development programs. It aims to fast-track efforts to scale AI curricula and advance teacher professional development in AI education.

ExLENT and ATE Supplement Opportunity “Expanding AI Career and Skilled Technical Workforce Opportunities in Support of High School Students” | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation NSF's implementation of the revised 2 CFR NSF Financial Assistance awards (grants and cooperative agreements) made on or after October 1, 2024, will be subject to the applicable set of award conditions, dated October 1, 2024, available on the NSF website .

These terms and conditions are consistent with the revised guidance specified in the OMB Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance published in the Federal Register on April 22, 2024.

Important information for proposers All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in this funding opportunity and in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) that is in effect for the relevant due date to which the proposal is being submitted. It is the responsibility of the proposer to ensure that the proposal meets these requirements.

Submitting a proposal prior to a specified deadline does not negate this requirement.

Updates to NSF Research Security Policies On July 10, 2025, NSF issued an Important Notice providing updates to the agency's research security policies, including a research security training requirement, Malign Foreign Talent Recruitment Program annual certification requirement, prohibition on Confucius institutes and an updated FFDR reporting and submission timeline.

ExLENT and ATE Supplement Opportunity “Expanding AI Career and Skilled Technical Workforce Opportunities in Support of High School Students” Invites supplemental funding requests from current ExLENT and ATE awardees for education-industry collaboration supporting AI-focused career and skill building learning opportunities for high school students.

Invites supplemental funding requests from current ExLENT and ATE awardees for education-industry collaboration supporting AI-focused career and skill building learning opportunities for high school students.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) invites supplemental funding requests to existing Experiential Learning for Emerging and Novel Technologies (ExLENT) and Advanced Technological Education (ATE) awards in support of the Presidential Initiative on Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth .

This Executive Order includes priorities around expanding AI-focused learning opportunities and certifications for high school students. By expanding early access to high-quality AI learning opportunities, this initiative supports national efforts to strengthen the U.S. AI workforce and advance education and innovation pipelines.

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) invites supplemental funding requests from current ExLENT and ATE awardees to pilot, implement, or expand AI-focused career and skill building learning opportunities for high school students. Supplemental funding requests will support activities led by ExLENT or ATE PIs including curriculum development, dual enrollment, micro-credentials, or hands-on experiential learning.

Collaborations between ExLENT and ATE PIs are strongly encouraged. Proposals must include both community colleges and high schools, and must also involve industry partners to build integrated, career-connected AI education pathways for high school students.

The overarching goal is to support the creation or expansion of AI courses, experiential learning opportunities, certification programs, or dual enrollment programs focusing on AI and workforce development for high school students. AI learning opportunities in informal contexts, such as at a workplace, are also strongly encouraged.

Funded supplemental funding requests are therefore expected to advance one or more of the following: Expand access to AI learning opportunities for high school students through new or enhanced curricula, micro-credentials, certification programs, or dual enrollment pathways. Strengthen partnerships among high schools, community colleges, and industry to support career-connected learning and technical preparation in AI-related fields.

Design, and deliver hands-on, experiential AI learning experiences , including simulations, project-based learning, and applied research aligned with emerging workforce needs. Promote student engagement and skill development through interaction with AI-technologies and platforms (e.g., GenAI, robotics, machine learning environment) in ways that build foundational and career-ready skills.

Integrate AI into existing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) programs , particularly in high-demand fields like advanced manufacturing, data science, and cybersecurity. Evaluate student learning and engagement outcomes to assess effectiveness of activities in improving AI career readiness and participation.

The opportunity described in this DCL is open to all active ExLENT and ATE grantees whose projects can support development or expansion of AI-related education for high school students. Projects must include community colleges, high schools and industry partners. For this DCL, supplemental funding requests need prior NSF approval.

To explore submission, please contact the “Expanding AI Career and Skilled Technical Workforce Opportunities in Support of High School Students” Program Leads below by sending a 2-page (maximum) Concept Outline summary of the planned funding request including a draft budget to: ExLENT@nsf.

gov for ExLENT Supplemental Funding Request Preparation Instructions If approved to submit, supplemental funding requests follow the guidance for Supplemental Support specified in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter VI. E. 5, and the below instructions.

Supplemental funding requests from current ExLENT/ATE recipients may not exceed 20% of the original award. The duration of supplemental support may be up to 24 months.

The supplemental funding request must include a 3- to 5-page description that details the (a) proposed supplemental activities; (b) anticipated outcomes and impacts for high school students; (c) expected results from enhanced engagement and strengthened partnerships; (d) how activities align with the goals of the Presidential AI Challenge and the original ExLENT or ATE award; (e) clear deliverables that will be part of the supplement; and (f) team collaboration and management plan.

The following documents are also required: Letters of collaboration from any new partners, confirming roles related to curriculum delivery, dual enrollment, or professional development, A clear timeline for implementation and expected participant impact, and A budget and clear justification for all requested budget costs. Supplemental funding requests should be submitted by December 15, 2025 .

Assistant Director for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships Assistant Director for STEM Education Division of Undergraduate Education (EDU/DUE) Division of Innovation and Technology Ecosystems (TIP/ITE)