Congress funds AI literacy for every K–12 student—no strings attached

What it does

This bill directs the National Science Foundation to award grants to universities and nonprofits to develop AI literacy curricula, teacher training, and evaluation tools for K–12 schools. The grants fund classroom materials, professional development for educators, and hands-on learning tools designed to teach students how to use AI effectively and responsibly, with the stated goal of preparing American youth for an AI-driven economy and maintaining U.S. technological leadership.

Why we flagged it

The bill's operative mechanism is straightforward: NSF grants to develop and deliver AI literacy curriculum and teacher training. This is a public investment in K–12 education infrastructure, not a regulatory carve-out, tax preference, or private subsidy.

What the text implies

• Grant awards to nonprofits and universities may indirectly benefit EdTech vendors and AI platform providers whose tools are incorporated into funded curricula, though no direct procurement or preference is stated.
• The bill's definition of AI literacy and 'responsible use' is delegated to the NSF Director and grant recipients, creating potential for variation in how AI risks (bias, surveillance, labor displacement) are taught across districts.
• No explicit funding amount is specified; implementation depends on future appropriations, which may limit actual reach and scale of curriculum deployment.

Section numbers refer to the bill text the analysis read — linked under Primary records below.

Who it affects

The bill funds educational infrastructure and teacher training in a critical emerging skill area with no apparent private carve-outs or liability shields. Students and educators gain access to curriculum and professional development resources; the public interest in workforce readiness and technological literacy is the primary beneficiary.

Who stands to gain

• universities and nonprofit organizations receiving NSF grants
• educational technology vendors (indirect, if their tools are adopted in funded curricula)

Named in the bill

National Science Foundation (NSF), National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020, Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, state and local educational agencies

Where it stands

8 cosponsors: 8 Democrats.

• Sep 26, 2025 — Introduced · Congress.gov: “Introduced in House”
• Sep 26, 2025 — Referred to House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology · Congress.gov: “Referred to the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology”
• Jun 25, 2026 — Markup held in committee · Congress.gov: “Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held”
• Jun 25, 2026 — Reported out of committee · Congress.gov: “Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 34 - 1”

Dates and quoted wording are Congress.gov's action record; the timeline shows status changes, not every procedural step.

Money around this bill

2 lobbying clients named this bill on 4 disclosure filings across 2 quarters, Dec 2025 to Jun 2026. Those filings disclosed $1,520,000 in lobbying spend. A filing names 16 bills on average, so that figure is what each filing reported, not a share belonging to this bill.

More lobbying clients named this bill than 41% of bills with at least one filing.

Thomas Kean, the sponsor, reported $1,220,477 in PAC receipts in the 2026 cycle.

• Information Technology Industry Council — $1,440,000 on 2 filings
• Magicschool Ai — $80,000 on 2 filings

Lobbying Disclosure Act filings through Jul 20, 2026. A filing shows who paid to lobby on a bill it names, not what changed.