Page 46 - BusinessWest August 4, 2025

Leading the Way
Pilot Program Expands Access to AI Opportunities in Classrooms
The Healey-Driscoll administration recently partnered
with Project Lead The Way (PLTW) to launch Future
Ready: AI in the Classroom. Through a $135,000
investment, this professional development pilot will support
teachers in 45 classrooms, estimating to reach more than
1,600 students, and is designed to provide high school edu-
cators with the tools, knowledge, network to bring artificial
intelligence (AI) into their classrooms.
This experience is jointly funded through the adminis-
tration’s STEM Advisory Council and the Massachusetts
AI Hub and will be administered by PLTW. Organizers say
this pilot marks an important step in expanding access to
AI learning opportunities for students and educators across
the state.
“Massachusetts has long been a global leader in both
technological innovation and education,” Gov. Maura Heal-
ey said. “With this pilot, we are building on that success,
providing our teachers with the skills and tools so they can
support the next generation and ensure Massachusetts
remains a global leader in applied AI.”
Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll added that “our administration
knows AI is a transformative technology that is already
reshaping how we live and learn. Through this pilot, we’re
giving educators the foundation they need to navigate this
new era with confidence, fueling workforce readiness and
expanding opportunity for students.”
This year-long, 50-hour professional development experience kicked off
at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative campus in Westborough,
where participants engaged in curriculum design workshops, peer collabo-
ration sessions, and targeted mini-trainings. This first experience aimed to
Educators gather at the professional development kickoff at the Massachusetts Technology
Collaborative campus in Westborough.
create a professional learning community that fosters innovation and shared
best practices. The program introduced educators to the fundamentals of
AI, explored ethical and responsible classroom applications, and facilitated
ongoing collaboration with industry experts and peers throughout the aca-
demic year.
“As a former teacher, I know how important professional development
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