Expanding K-12 Resources for AI Education DCL

Expanding K-12 Resources for AI Education DCL is sponsored by NSF Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering. This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) invites supplemental funding requests from current NSF awardees in certain NSF directorates to support the expansion of K-12 resources for AI education.

It supports efforts to refine, scale, evaluate, and implement K-12 AI activities aligned with age-appropriate AI literacy and ethics. Priority themes include teacher professional development, curricula and instructional materials, and the use of AI tools in education. Nonprofits that are existing NSF awardees are eligible.

Expanding K-12 Resources For AI Education | 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.

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Expanding K-12 Resources For AI Education Invites supplemental funding requests to current NSF awardees in certain NSF directorates to support the expansion of K-12 resources for AI education. Invites supplemental funding requests to current NSF awardees in certain NSF directorates to support the expansion of K-12 resources for AI education.

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) has made extensive investments in fundamental research, center-scale institutes, technology transition, outreach, and education related to the science and applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This Dear Colleague Letter (DCL) seeks to build upon these investments to advance the goals of the Executive Order on Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth by providing resources for K-12 AI education.

To advance the goals of the executive order, NSF will accept supplemental funding proposals from existing awardees with K-12 AI or computer science education experience to refine, scale, evaluate, and/or implement established K-12 activities. Further information about eligible awardees specific to their NSF Directorate can be found at the end of this DCL.

Supplement proposals should be for specific and focused educational efforts at the K-12 level that address age-appropriate AI education/literacy, and/or the use of technologies in AI education to facilitate adoption by educational partners. Activities with the potential to be implemented in classrooms within 12 months of the supplement award date will be prioritized for funding.

The proposed efforts should align with one or more of the following themes: Theme 1: Teacher professional development — extend capacity and reach of teacher professional development programs for AI education that equip K-12 teachers to incorporate AI education into their existing lesson plans/curricula and/or prepare teachers to offer new AI course content or classes.

Theme 2: Curricula and instructional materials — refine, evaluate, and/or scale activities for K-12 students that cover AI topics and/or that provide instruction on how to use specific AI tools to solve real-world challenges. Materials should be connected to particular AI concepts, essential knowledge and/or skills, and tied to a specific grade level.

Theme 3: Technology and tools — refine, evaluate, and/or scale infrastructure, tools, or services that bring AI into the K-12 classroom or in other instructional settings to improve teaching and learning in any subject.

Theme 4: Networks — design/develop/expand organizational structures that provide resources and facilitate communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing for AI education among researchers and K-12 education practitioners within and across their communities.

Compelling proposals will clearly describe a timeline for the work and demonstrate how implementation and impacts of existing efforts will be enhanced by the requested supplemental support. Target outcomes should highlight resources that educators can successfully use “out of the box,” without need for sustained external personnel, engineers, programmers, or other technical support staff.

The project should demonstrate the capacity for longer-term sustainable impact through a plan for implementation with one or more education partners, e.g., school system(s), education nonprofit organization(s), museum(s), other public or private providers of K-12 education services, or relevant online repositories. Proposals should detail how the proposed implementation plan enables the broader dissemination of those products.

Depending on the objectives of the existing award, the original team may lack an educator or education researcher with expertise in K-12 education. Proposals for supplemental funding under this DCL may request support for additional appropriate personnel. The proposed activities should connect to existing AI education efforts, frameworks around AI education, and/or the use of AI tools.

NSF Merit Review principles call for all proposals to include a mechanism to assess success. As stated in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG), meaningful assessment and evaluation of NSF funded projects should be based on appropriate metrics.

FUNDING LIMITS: Budget requests may be up to 20% of the original award budget with a maximum of $300,000, but PIs are strongly advised to consult with their cognizant program officer or an NSF AI in Education and Workforce (AIEW) program officer at this alias: nsf-aiew@nsf. gov to understand specific funding targets.

The budget request must be accompanied by budget justifications corresponding to the efforts designed to lead to successful implementation. ELIGIBILITY: Please refer to the list below of NSF Directorates and their respective programs participating in this DCL. DEADLINES: Consideration of supplemental support requests submitted after December 1, 2025, is subject to continuation of this funding opportunity.

PROPOSAL PREPARATION: Requests for support under this DCL should be submitted following the instructions for requesting supplemental support to an existing award, as described in Chapters VI. II. E(5) of the PAPPG: https://www.

nsf. gov/policies/pappg/24-1/ch-6-nsf-awards#ch6E5 .

Proposals must include, (i) a summary of the proposed work, including a statement that the proposal is submitted in response to this DCL; (ii) a justification of the need for the supplemental funds, including the roles of any personnel added to the project to support the supplemental activities; and (iii) a budget and budget justification, highlighting the use of the additional funding as distinguished from the original funding.

If new personnel are added to the project, biosketches should be provided as supplementary documentation. Together, parts (i) and (ii) should not exceed 6 pages. COGNIZANT PROGRAM OFFICERS: The participating Directorates may prioritize different types of K-12 educational activity.

Therefore, prospective PIs are strongly encouraged to consult with the cognizant program officer of their existing award prior to submitting a supplemental funding request, and to contact an NSF AI in Education and Workforce (AIEW) Program Officer at nsf-aiew@nsf. gov . To help ensure timely processing, PIs should inform their NSF point of contact by e-mail when the proposal is submitted.

Directorate for Computer & Information Science and Engineering Awardees whose projects have significant K-12 AI or Computer Science education components are eligible to apply for a supplement. Prospective CISE awardees interested in applying for supplemental funding in response to this DCL must contact a CISE PO through the CISE Computing Education Research program, contact e-mail, cise-cer@nsf. gov .

Directorate for Engineering Awardees from Engineering Research Centers (ERCs), Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers (IUCRCs), as well as from the IUSE/PFE:RED, PFE:RIEF, RET, and REU programs, may apply for a supplement to their active award to extend activities relevant to K-12 AI education.

PIs considering submission of a supplement request are strongly encouraged to consult with their managing Program Officer to ensure program fit. Directorate for Geosciences Awardees from Geosciences programs must contact their cognizant program officer.

Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Awardees from MPS centers, institutes, and facilities, as well as from DMS programs, are eligible to apply for a supplement to their award if that award includes established activities in K-12 AI education. Prospective applicants are required to contact their cognizant program officer prior to submission.

Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences All awardees of SBE grants are eligible to apply for a supplement to their award if that award includes established activities in K-12 that connect to existing AI education efforts, frameworks around AI education, and/or the use of AI tools. Prospective applicants are required to contact their cognizant program officer prior to submission.

Directorate for STEM Education Awardees from any EDU program with projects that have existing K-12 AI education components are eligible to apply for a supplement. Prospective applicants are required to contact their cognizant program officer prior to submission and send a 1-page project summary by email.

Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships Awardees from the TIP Directorate are encouraged to contact their cognizant program officer.

Acting Assistant Director Directorate for Computer & Information Science & Engineering (CISE) Deputy Assistant Director Directorate for Engineering (ENG) Deputy Assistant Director Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS) Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE) Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP)