Chan Zuckerberg Initiative Launches AI Grants to Empower Educators in Technology Development

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has announced three significant grants to enhance the role of educators in developing AI tools for classrooms.
CZI's grants will fund partnerships with Education First, ISTE, and Leanlab Education, supporting collaboration between educators and AI developers to create contextually relevant, accurate, and impactful AI systems.

The Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI) has announced three major grants aimed at empowering educators through artificial intelligence (AI) education initiatives. The announcement was made during a visit to Dale Junior High School in the Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD), where CZI’s Head of Education, Sandra Liu Huang, observed the impact of AI tools co-created with educators.

The grants are part of CZI's ongoing effort to ensure that AI tools in education are designed with input from educators.

"Educator input is crucial for ensuring AI tools in education are contextually relevant, accurate, and aligned with learning," said Huang.

"By integrating educators' expertise, we can design AI systems that enhance student outcomes and support tailored learning experiences."

One key example of AI in action is AUHSD's collaboration with the nonprofit eKadence Learning Foundation, which has led to the development of AI tools that help teachers create projects aligned with district learning priorities. These tools provide real-time data on student progress, helping teachers personalize learning and offer timely support.

The three grants announced by CZI aim to expand these efforts by building infrastructure that supports teachers and education leaders in actively participating in AI development. The grants will fund Education First, the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), and Leanlab Education to promote collaboration between educators and AI developers. This partnership seeks to ensure that future AI tools address real classroom challenges and are pedagogically sound.

Through these initiatives, CZI is committed to transforming education by integrating AI tools that respond to the needs of both teachers and students, fostering a more effective and personalized learning experience.

Edited by Harshajit Sarmah