Amazon has expanded its AI education initiative to support 18 educational partners across seven US regions, reaching nearly 500,000 students with artificial intelligence curriculum and hands-on learning tools. The expansion, announced as part of the White House Presidential AI Challenge, more than doubled Amazon's initial investment to $800,000 following strong demand from school districts nationwide.
Through partnership with education nonprofit PlayLab, participating districts receive access to custom AI tools designed for both students and teachers, along with hands-on training to implement AI education. The program adapts to each partner's unique approach rather than imposing standardized curriculum, allowing districts to integrate AI learning aligned with local priorities and readiness levels.
"The strong response from school districts showed us how many educators are ready to bring AI into the classroom to help students build skills for the future," said Bettina Stix, Amazon's global director of community impact. "By expanding this program, we're helping nearly half a million students access AI education while supporting teachers as they integrate these tools into daily learning."
The initiative gives students hands-on experience using AI for classroom learning and real-world problem solving within PlayLab's purpose-built learning environment. Rather than theoretical instruction, students design AI-powered solutions addressing actual challenges in their communities.
Implementation Examples
In Fairfax County Public Schools, Virginia's largest school district, the program is scaling to reach all high school students. In Washington DC, Amazon and PlayLab hosted a two-day immersive workshop with 60 middle and high school students from Friendship Charter Schools, where participants built and tested AI-powered solutions to community challenges.
The 18 educational partners span multiple states and educational models. Major public school districts include Fairfax County Public Schools, Alexandria City Public Schools, Bellevue School District, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and District of Columbia Public Schools. Charter networks participating include KIPP DC, KIPP Atlanta, Friendship Charter Schools, and several others.
Broader Commitment
This expansion builds on Amazon's commitment to the White House's Pledge to America's Youth. Through this initiative, Amazon will support AI skills training for 4 million US learners and enable AI curricula for 10,000 educators by 2028. The commitment includes up to $30 million in AWS promotional credits and $1.5 million in cash prizes for student winners of the Presidential AI Challenge.
"Together with Amazon, we're meeting districts where they are," said Hilah Barbot, head of strategic partnerships at PlayLab. "It gives educators and students the space to experiment with AI in meaningful ways, building skills that are relevant today while preparing for what's next."
The program addresses growing recognition that AI literacy represents essential workforce preparation. However, access to AI education remains uneven, with under-resourced schools often lacking curriculum, training, or technology infrastructure to teach these skills effectively.
The $800,000 investment covers PlayLab platform access, educator training, and implementation support across participating districts. Amazon separately provides AWS credits and prize money through the Presidential AI Challenge, creating multiple pathways for student AI engagement.
