The state Department of Education announced the two grants Wednesday, which were appropriated in Gov. Phil Murphy’s fiscal year 2025 budget.
Ten school districts will receive money to use artificial intelligence to tutor students, train teachers and start other AI-related programs. Two county vocational school districts — in Mercer and Middlesex counties — will receive separate grants to train students for careers related to AI.
All of the grants run until Jan. 31, 2026.
“In New Jersey, we are committed to building up our innovation economy and investing in the next generation of tech leaders,” said Murphy. “By giving our students the tools necessary to engage with AI, we are ensuring our state will remain a national leader in cutting-edge technological advancements and innovations for years to come.”
Nine school districts were awarded $75,000 each in Artificial Intelligence Innovation in Education Grant funds. They are:
- Bergen County: Pascack Valley Regional High School District
- Burlington County: Burlington City Public School District
- Camden County: Eastern Camden County Regional School District
- Gloucester County: Delsea Regional High School District
- Monmouth County: Keyport School District
- Morris County: West Morris Regional High School District
- Salem County: Woodstown-Pilesgrove Regional School District
- Somerset County: Somerville Public School District
A spokeswoman for the state Department of Education did not immediately respond to a question about why the Mercer County district received less funding than the other recipients.
The grants will help pay for programs focused on both teaching with AI and teaching about AI. The money will be used to fund pilot programs using generative AI tools for individualized tutoring, data analysis to improve instruction and teacher training.
The schools will also focus on creating curricula to promote AI literacy among students, including lessons on ethics and societal impacts. They will also use the funds to establish AI-focused makerspaces and other AI-driven learning opportunities, state officials said.
The grant was open to New Jersey school districts with at least one high school and an existing advisory committee overseeing AI integration in the curriculum.
The second grant, the Expanding Career Pathways in Artificial Intelligence Grant, was awarded to schools in Mercer and Middlesex counties.
Mercer County Vocational District was awarded $338,872 and Middlesex County Vocational School District was awarded $375,000, officials said.
The grant will help expand students’ knowledge and skills on how computers and software mimic human learning, reasoning and motor skills, state officials said.
The vocational schools will create cutting-edge AI and robotics curriculum for teaching and learning AI, state officials said. Students will also learn about computing theory, cybernetics, human factors and natural language processing.
“By thoughtfully integrating AI literacy and tools into our classrooms, we’re democratizing access to these transformative technologies while preparing our next generation of leaders,” said Beth Simone Noveck, the New Jersey Chief Artificial Intelligence Strategist.
“Together, these grant programs will help us navigate technological AI advancements and support the development of best practices for responsible AI use in education that can benefit schools across our state, ensuring every New Jersey student has the opportunity to shape our AI-enabled future,” she said.
©2025 Advance Local Media LLC. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
