IBM Launches K-12 AI Leaders Fellowship

IBM announced in a press release a K-12 AI leaders fellowship for superintendents, education leaders, and educators in the United States. The program follows a survey commissioned by IBM and conducted by Morning Consult among more than 2,000 K-12 educators and parents.

The survey found that 76% of middle school educators and 73% of high school educators said AI is used in their classrooms at least weekly, compared with 45% of elementary educators. Nearly half of high school educators, 45%, said AI is used daily or almost daily.

IBM said only 20% of K-12 educators reported receiving extensive AI training. Educators named lack of training or professional learning as the top barrier to supporting AI literacy, at 42%, followed by limited AI curriculum and instructional materials, at 34%.

The first fellowship cohort will start in fall 2026 with up to 100 participants from the greater New York area. Participants will receive AI learning and credentials through IBM SkillsBuild, along with curriculum, capstone projects, and access to expert facilitators. IBM said it plans to expand the program to more U.S. states during its first year.