AIforIndiana
The World is Changing Fast
Artificial intelligence, data science and other emerging technologies are rapidly transforming every industry and career. According to a report from McKinsey, 92% of companies plan to invest more in gen AI over the next 3 years.. For Indiana, we are in a race to equip our students with the skills to succeed in a future that’s already here.
That’s where Nextech comes in. We’re built for this moment and ready to act. By empowering students, equipping educators and partnering with employers, Nextech ensures Indiana isn’t just prepared for a tech driven future – we’re leading it.
Why Now?
AI is not going away. The only question is whether we equip our students—and by extension, our future workforce—to use it responsibly and effectively. The choices we make in the next few years will shape not only our schools, but our economy and our society for decades to come.
AI is no longer a futuristic concept
AI isn’t a future technology—it’s embedded in nearly every field today, from healthcare and manufacturing to marketing and transportation. Students entering the workforce will need to understand not only how to use AI tools responsibly but also how these technologies influence the decisions, data, and systems that drive their communities. Without early exposure, we risk widening the skills gap between those who can leverage AI and those who are left behind by it.
Students are experimenting with AI without any guardrails
Young people are already interacting with AI every day through search engines, social media, and generative tools. Yet most don’t understand how these systems work or how they shape their online experiences. Teaching AI literacy in K–12 gives students the power to question, interpret, and create with technology rather than passively accept it — turning them from consumers into informed, ethical digital citizens.
The equity gap is widening
If AI literacy is only taught in a handful of schools or to students with access to advanced programs, inequity in opportunity will deepen. Introducing AI concepts early and across all schools ensures every student — regardless of background — can participate in shaping the future of technology, not just adapting to it. This is not just a matter of workforce readiness; it’s a matter of fairness and inclusion.
Policy Recommendations
- Integrate AI into Computer Science Standards: We advocate for the explicit inclusion of AI literacy within Indiana’s K-12 Academic Standards for Computer Science. This will provide a foundational understanding of AI for all students, ensuring they are equipped with essential knowledge for future academic and career pathways.
- Establish an AI in K-16 Education Task Force: We propose the formation of a dedicated task force comprised of educators, AI experts, industry leaders, and policymakers. This task force will be responsible for developing a comprehensive strategic plan for AI education across the state, identifying best practices, and recommending implementation strategies.
- Secure Funding for CS and AI Teacher Professional Development (PD): To effectively teach both Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Literacy, our educators need robust training and ongoing support. Dedicated state funding for professional development programs will empower teachers with the knowledge and resources to confidently deliver CS and AI curriculum.
- Update All Graduation Requirement Pathway Courses to Explicitly Include AI: Explicitly include Artificial Intelligence concepts in the most widely used course for the graduation requirement, Computing Foundations for a Digital Age.
