Artificial intelligence is already influencing everyday decisions in schools—from how teachers plan and communicate to how leaders think about student support and systems. But many of the examples shaping AI use in education aren’t built with rural realities in mind. As AI adoption accelerates, rural schools and districts have an important opportunity: to inform the national conversation about AI in education while refining what effective, responsible use looks like in their local contexts and beyond.
The Rural AI Strategy Lab is designed to meet that moment.
Led by FullScale in partnership with All4Ed, the Rural AI Strategy Lab is a six-month learning network that brings together 12–15 rural school and district (or charter network) teams to deepen or advance AI-powered work in their local contexts.
Rather than prescribing tools or use cases, the Strategy Lab supports teams in identifying a real need, problem, or opportunity and designing, piloting, and refining an AI-enabled approach grounded in local priorities and conditions. Teams will learn alongside peers from rural communities across the country as they engage stakeholders, define measures of success, and build an understanding of impact over time—with guided support and access to AI and innovation expertise throughout.
Potential pilots might focus on areas such as reducing instructional and administrative workload, supporting learners within existing classrooms or courses, or strengthening planning and decision-making processes—always with an eye toward feasibility, equity, and sustainability in rural settings.
Selected Strategy Lab Network teams will receive a $4,000 stipend to support their participation. In addition, a designated team lead will attend FullScale Symposium 2026 (October 8–10, 2026) with travel and registration covered.
If you’re part of a rural school or district/charter network and interested in shaping how AI is used in ways that reflect your community’s realities and strengths, we encourage you to apply.
Applications are due February 13, 2026.
👉 Learn more and apply: bit.ly/rural-ai
Rural perspectives belong at the center of the AI conversation. We’d love to learn alongside you.
