Philadelphia, PA — March 4, 2026 — The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (Penn GSE) today announced that two intermediate units and four school districts in the region have been selected for the next phase of the Pioneering AI in School Systems (PASS) program, an innovative professional learning initiative designed to help K–12 systems thoughtfully integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching, learning, and leadership. 

Thanks to a $1 million investment from Google.org, the philanthropic arm of Google, PASS will expand beginning this month to two intermediate units and two districts in Pennsylvania, one school district in Delaware, and one in New Jersey. The expansion builds on the program’s successful pilot, which was launched in spring 2025 with foundational support from the Marrazzo Family Foundation in the School District of Philadelphia.

Building on overwhelmingly positive feedback from its initial Philadelphia pilot — where leaders and educators praised PASS for its relevance, collaborative design, and practical guidance — the expanded program aims to create a scalable, district-based framework that can serve as a national model for AI professional learning.

PASS is a three-tier professional development model that supports district leaders, school leaders, and educators in developing internal capacity to craft AI strategy, policies, and classroom practices that are ethical, equitable, and aligned across roles. WIth the Google.org funding, the program is offered at no cost to participating districts and includes certificates of completion and access to all instructional content and resources.

Selected PASS Expansion Districts

  • Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9 (14 public school districts)
  • BLaST Intermediate Unit 17 (19 public district, 2 career centers, & 12 non-public schools)
  • Allentown, PA School District
  • Neshaminy, PA School District
  • Paterson, NJ School District
  • Christina, DE School District

“School systems across our region are eager for thoughtful, research‑informed support as they navigate the opportunities and challenges of AI,” said Katharine Strunk, Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. “Penn GSE is proud to be that partner. Through PASS, we are helping districts across our region build the knowledge and confidence to use AI in ways that strengthen teaching and learning. We are thrilled to expand this work with new collaborators and to support educators as they lead the way in creating thoughtful, human‑centered approaches to AI in their classrooms and communities.”

Penn GSE continues to deepen its leadership in AI and its rapid impact on teaching and learning. The School is advancing this work across research, teaching, and practice—launching a new online master’s degree program focused on artificial intelligence in education; expanding its already significant expertise through the addition of new faculty; developing tools and curricula that teach students and educators how to build, use, and critically evaluate AI; and conducting research that examines both the promise and the risks of AI in classrooms and school systems. Together, these efforts position Penn GSE at the forefront of shaping responsible, human-centered AI in education.

About PASS

Originally launched in spring 2025 with support from the Marrazzo Family Foundation, PASS helps school systems align local policies with emerging AI standards, build internal expertise, and promote responsible, equitable innovation. Participants engage with topics such as access, data privacy, model bias, and ethical implementation across strategic, leadership, and classroom levels.

About Penn GSE

The University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education is one of the world’s leading schools for education research and practitioner preparation. Penn GSE partners with schools, universities, and communities to expand educational access — especially for those underserved by society — and, through rigorous research and innovative programs, develops new knowledge and transformational teachers and leaders in pursuit of educational opportunity.

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