Join national innovation networks and build internal leadership academies to advance responsible district AI adoption¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

The report describes how Orcutt Union School District joined Digital Promise's League of Innovative Schools and created an internal AI Leadership Academy of classroom teachers and Teachers on Special Assignment to operationalize Recommendation 1: collaborating with state, local, and district hubs that 'share tools, policies, and evaluation practices.' Network participation gave the district convenings, work groups, and peer-generated resources, while the academy 'evaluate[s] pedagogical "best uses" and ensure[s] responsible AI adoption at the student level.'

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Membership in a collaborative network such as the League of Innovative Schools

Constraints¶

Target Learners¶

• K-12 district leaders
• classroom teachers
• Teachers on Special Assignment

Target Learning Goals¶

• responsible AI adoption
• educational innovation and technology integration

Related Strategies¶

• Invest in dedicated instructional technology leadership roles and role-specific professional learning for AI literacy
• Recruit practitioners for research engagement by leaning into existing networks, using open calls and targeted invitations
• Facilitate educator networks and knowledge-sharing hubs for educational AI

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Prado, Y.; Ruiz, P.; Fusco, J.; Adler, K., Falck, B.; Smith, M.L. (2026, April). Operationalizing AI in K-12 Education: Five District Use Cases for Ethical and Strategic Adoption. Digital Promise. https://doi.org/10.51388/20.500.12265/290