NJ DOE Awards $1.5 Million in Grants to Advance Artificial Intelligence in Classrooms

Ten school districts and two county vocational schools selected to integrate AI tools, curricula, and career pathways for students.

The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has announced two new grants, totaling $1.5 million, to help school districts and county vocational schools develop and enhance Artificial Intelligence (AI) programs. As allocated in Governor Murphy’s Fiscal Year 2025 budget, the funding will support AI integration in K-12 classrooms and foster new Career and Technical Education (CTE) curricula with an emphasis on practical applications of AI.

“In New Jersey, we are committed to building up our innovation economy and investing in the next generation of tech leaders,” said Governor Phil 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. I look forward to seeing what these grant recipients are able to accomplish.”

Artificial Intelligence Innovation in Education Grant

Amount: $750,000 total (awarding $72,805 to $75,000 per district)
Who: 10 school districts
Focus:

• Teaching with AI: Piloting generative AI tools for personalized tutoring, teacher training, and data-driven instruction.
• Teaching about AI: Developing innovative curricula on AI literacy, ethics, and real-world impacts; creating AI-focused makerspaces for hands-on projects; and launching project-based learning initiatives.

Award Recipients

This grant was available exclusively to New Jersey local educational agencies with at least one high school (grades 9-12) and an existing advisory committee overseeing AI integration in their curriculum.

“The school districts receiving these grants are at the forefront of the future of education,” said Acting Education Commissioner Kevin Dehmer. “By embracing AI, they are preparing students to excel in a workforce that increasingly requires a deep understanding of how to leverage this technology. These programs are an important step toward ensuring that our classrooms not only integrate the latest technologies but also nurture the critical thinking and ethical understanding needed to thrive in the age of AI.”

Expanding Career Pathways in Artificial Intelligence Grant

Amount: $713,872 total (ranging from $338,872 to $375,000)
Who: 2 county vocational-technical school districts
Focus:

• CTE Pathways: Designing and implementing AI- and robotics-focused coursework emphasizing computing theory, cybernetics, human factors, and natural language processing.
• Future-Ready Skills: Enabling CTE students to engage with advanced AI concepts, navigate AI-based decision-making processes, and understand AI’s potential limitations and biases.

Award Recipients

“New Jersey's public schools have long set the standard for educational excellence, and these AI Innovation grants represent our next step forward,” said Beth Simone Noveck, New Jersey State Chief AI Strategist. “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. 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.”

Through these grants, students will gain exposure to cutting-edge AI education, preparing them for emerging careers and fostering technological literacy. Both grants extend through January 31, 2026.

For more information on these programs and AI in education, visit the NJDOE’s Office of Innovation AI webpage.