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Moving from AI Policy into Practice

A technical assistance grant program for schools, districts, and states ready to accelerate their AI initiatives to ensure implementation, from policy to practice, is safe and effective.

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About the Spark Fund

The pace of AI development in education demands strategic governance, robust pathways for AI literacy, and implementation that builds trust across every stakeholder group. With so much to address at once, the hardest part is knowing where to start and how to ensure initiatives mitigate risk while driving positive learning outcomes.

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The EDSAFE AI Spark Fund aims to close that gap. The program, geared towards K-12 education institutions implementing safe and effective AI policies and practices, pairs funding with direct support. Recipients work alongside a dedicated Technical Assistance provider vetted by EDSAFE to drive AI initiatives along the spectrum of the EDSAFE Policy Stack.

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Whether your organization is just beginning to address AI or refining how it uses tools already in place, the Spark Fund is built for your stage of the work.

How It Works

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    Finish the EDSAFE Self-Paced Policy Course and earn your certificate of completion. The course is free and built to be completed at your own pace.

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    The grant application is embedded in your course certificate.

  • Collaborative Team Work

     Complete the application fields, including a proposed scope of work and detailed budget.

  • Team Discussion Meeting

     Awarded institutions meet with a vetted provider to discuss their project and formalize their partnership.

Eligibility

The Spark Fund is open to:

  • Schools

  • Districts

  • Charter organizations

  • Local Education Agencies (LEAs)

  • State Education Agencies (SEAs)

All applicants must hold a certificate of completion from the EDSAFE Self-Paced Policy Course.

Funding

Spark Fund Awards are $25,000 each, with a portion dedicated towards technical assistance. Specific details are noted on the grant application.

Timelines

Round 1 Deadline: July 15, 2026

Round 2: Applications open December 2026

2026 Round 1 Grantees

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  1. East Bernstadt Independent School District
  2. New Trier Township High School District 203
  3. Norwalk Public Schools
  4. Phalen Leadership Academies
  5. Snoqualmie Valley School District
  6. The Pennsylvania Leadership Charter School
  7. Traverse City Area Public Schools
  8. Washington Leadership Academy & DC AI Collaborative
  9. Knox County Public Schools
  10. Winterset Community School District

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Schools, districts, charters, LEAs, and SEAs. Every applicant must complete the EDSAFE Self-Paced Policy Course and receive a certificate of completion.

  • Complete the EDSAFE Self-Paced Policy Course. Your certificate of completion includes an embedded link to the grant application. The application requires applicants to thoroughly explain their project, outcomes, tangible deliverables, and detailed budget.

  • The application link is attached to your course certificate and sent to you after you finish the course. There is no separate application portal.

  • Each Spark Fund is $25,000 and follows a deliverables-based payment schedule.

  • Applications for round 2 of the Spark Fund will open December 2026. Check back for more information.

  • Here are few examples of work the EDSAFE AI Alliance looks to fund:

    • Formal AI policy or policies aligned with the EDSAFE AI Policy Stack

    • AI Guidelines aligned with the SAFE Framework

    • Staff professional learning plans and materials designed to increase awareness of policies and best practices aligned with the SAFE Framework

    • Student AI Literacy implementation plans and materials designed to support student learning aligned with the SAFE Framework

    • Other examples

  • We request one application per institution.

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