As artificial intelligence moves from concept to classroom, momentum for K–12 AI education is accelerating—especially across the American heartland. A recent survey from Heartland Forward, the Walton Family Foundation and Gallup reveals both opportunity and urgency: while 77% of Gen Zers in the heartland use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, only 10% of K–12 students say their teachers have helped prepare them to use AI in future jobs or education—and just 9% of working Gen Zers feel extremely prepared to use AI in the workplace.

This readiness gap highlights a critical need to expand access to AI learning, particularly in communities where education and workforce systems are already under pressure to adapt.

The June 30, 2025 launch of the White House’s Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education signals growing national alignment. Sixty-eight major organizations—including Microsoft, Amazon, OpenAI, NVIDIA, and Meta—have pledged to expand training, curriculum, and tools for students and teachers. As of July 2025, at least 28 states, including 11 in the heartland, have released formal AI guidance for K–12 classrooms.

In parallel, major AI developers OpenAI, Microsoft and Anthropic announced a $23 million private investment to launch the National Academy for AI Instruction, aimed at equipping teachers with the skills to best prepare the next generation for an AI-dominant future, signaling. a new era of public-private partnership in the AI space. 

Heartland States in Motion

Across the heartland, educators, governors and community partners are seizing this opportunity to embed AI into everyday learning, including the initiatives of several key states:

• Michigan: The statewide AI Literacy Partnership between Michigan Virtual and aiEDU is laying the groundwork for long-term integration. Together, they’re offering curricular resources, teacher training, and an AI Integration Framework to help schools assess needs, engage stakeholders, and build tailored implementation plans. From STEM to social studies, teachers are being trained not just to use AI, but to teach it. 

• Mississippi: The state has taken a workforce-first approach. Through a partnership with NVIDIA, the state is bringing AI and cybersecurity education into both K-12 classrooms and job training programs. “This is monumental for Mississippi,” said Governor Tate Reeves. “We’re not just teaching students about AI—we’re preparing them for careers in it.” The initiative explicitly targets rural and underserved communities, helping students build future-ready skills without leaving home. 

• Iowa: The Iowa Department of Education has deployed a $3 million initiative, providing every elementary school with an AI-powered reading tutor. The tool, accessible through this summer, supports foundational skills like phonics, vocabulary and comprehension, proving that AI can support student success even in the earliest grades. 

To support AI literacy and upskilling efforts across the region, Heartland Forward recently announced a partnership with Dallas-based Stemuli to develop and deploy a gamified AI curriculum for students and entrepreneurs in all twenty heartland states. The initiative aims to close the rural tech gap, building AI fluency ahead of projected automation impacts on 30% of U.S. work hours by 2030. Built with rural infrastructure and diverse learners in mind, platforms like Stemuli are expanding access, supporting educators and creating pathways for upward mobility. 

The alignment of federal pledges, corporate investments, state policies and regional innovation positions the heartland to do more than catch up—it’s setting the pace. Through thoughtful policy, targeted investment and a commitment to equitable access, the region is transforming AI education into a durable engine of workforce readiness and regional growth.