Faculty Expert

  • L. Michael Golden

    Vice Dean of Innovative Programs and Partnerships, Catalyst @ Penn GSE

    Policy, Organizations, Leadership, and Systems Division

  • John Gamba

    Director of Innovative Programs, Penn GSE

Penn GSE is a core partner in the newly launched K–12 AI Infrastructure Program, a groundbreaking initiative led by Digital Promise to transform the future of artificial intelligence in education.

With a total investment of $26 million over four years, the program aims to close critical gaps between the science of learning and the capabilities of generative AI (GenAI) by funding the development of openly shared datasets, models, benchmarks, and other digital public goods. These resources will be freely available to researchers, developers, school districts, and educators to use in building safe, effective, and equitable AI tools for K–12 teaching and learning.

Penn GSE’s Catalyst @ Penn GSE joins a distinguished group of collaborators—including Learning Data Insights, DrivenData, and the Massive Data Institute at Georgetown University—in stewarding this effort. Together, the partners will ensure that the program’s outputs reflect the diversity of learners, uphold rigorous learning science principles, and promote responsible governance of AI technologies.

“This initiative represents a pivotal moment for education,” said John Gamba, director of innovative programs at Catalyst @ Penn GSE. “By investing in infrastructure that supports trustworthy and inclusive AI, we are laying the foundation for tools that truly enhance learning outcomes and empower educators.”

This project is emblematic of Penn GSE’s accelerating leadership in artificial intelligence in education. The School, which has long pioneered research-to-practice programs that integrate innovative technologies into education thoughtfully, equitably, and ethically, launched a new online master’s degree program focused on AI in education this fall and welcomed two new AI-specialist faculty members to deepen its research and teaching capacity. Additionally, thanks to support from Google, Penn GSE is scaling up its Pioneering AI in School Systems (PASS) program, a professional development initiative launched in 2025 to help school leaders and educators responsibly integrate AI into classrooms.

The K–12 AI Infrastructure Program will invite public participation through an open Request for Information slated to begin later this month. Educators, researchers, and community members are encouraged to help shape its direction.

For more information or to submit feedback, visit Digital Promise’s announcement page.

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