FAQ

The Strategy Lab is designed for rural schools and districts who want to pilot an AI-powered approach in their local setting. If you’re unsure whether you meet a formal definition of rural, we still encourage you to express interest—context and fit matter.

Recruitment and selection begins in early 2026, with cohort activities running through the spring, summer, and early fall.  

Participants should expect monthly virtual cohort sessions, coaching touch points, and time for local planning and piloting, including some engagement during the summer months. We aim to make the experience meaningful but manageable, and recognize that not all staff are contracted over the summer. In those cases, summer participation may be limited to a designated team lead. Teams will receive a stipend to support their engagement and efforts in the program.

No. Teams may be at different stages—from early exploration to more established implementation. That said, participation requires a local context where the use of AI is permitted and supported by district policy.  While some restrictions are ok (specifically around student use and data privacy), schools and districts with wide-reaching "bans" on AI are likely not a good fit for this opportunity.

No. Teams will explore tools and approaches that make sense for their goals, values, and local context.

Regardless of whether applying as a district/charter network or a single school, each team should include 2-4 participants and represent classroom, school leadership, and district/charter network perspectives. 

Yes! Teams will be provided with a $4,000 stipend to support their engagement and efforts in the program. The team lead from each participating school or district/charter network will also have travel and registration fees covered to attend Symposium 2026.