Executive Order Issued Calling for Advancement of Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth

04.29.2025

On April 23, 2025, President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order titled "Advancing Artificial Intelligence Education for American Youth," establishing a comprehensive policy aimed at integrating Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) education into K-12 classrooms across the nation. The order declares a specific policy to promote AI literacy and proficiency among Americans by (1) promoting the appropriate integration of AI into education, (2) providing comprehensive AI training for educators, and (3) fostering early exposure to AI concepts and technology to develop an AI-ready workforce and the next generation of American AI innovators. Will Scharf, White House staff secretary, explained the order’s rationale: "The basic idea of this executive order is to ensure that we properly train the workforce of the future by ensuring that school children, young Americans, are adequately trained in AI tools." By incorporating AI into education from an early age, the order aims to prepare students for a future which will be greatly impacted by AI.

A key component of the executive order is the establishment of the White House Task Force on AI Education. This task force will be chaired by the Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and include other key members of the administration. The task force will plan and implement a "Presidential AI Challenge" to showcase student and educator achievements in AI, establish public-private partnerships to provide resources for K-12 AI education, and work with industry groups, nonprofits, and academic institutions to develop online resources for teaching AI literacy. The order also directs the Secretary of Education to prioritize AI in discretionary grant programs for teacher training and instructs the Director of the National Science Foundation to prioritize research on the use of AI in education.

While the executive order establishes an ambitious vision for AI in education, it leaves us with several important questions about its implementation. School districts will need guidance on how to ensure responsible adoption of AI technologies in the classroom. How exactly will AI be incorporated into various subject curricula? The order mentions professional development for teachers, but does not include any specific information on how it will be delivered effectively to educators who may have limited technological backgrounds or the funding allocations necessary to address infrastructure needs in underserved areas. Notably, this Executive Order states that it will be “implemented consistent with applicable law,” indicating that state and federal regulations related to student and employee privacy will remain a primary concern when integrating AI into educational programs.

AALRR attorneys will continue to monitor executive and legislative actions relating to the use of AI in education. If your educational agency has questions about this Executive Order or the contents of this Alert, please contact the authors of this Alert or your usual AALRR counsel.