Microsoft has launched Elevate Washington, providing all 295 public school districts and 34 community colleges in the state with free access to AI tools and training resources. The initiative addresses a stark digital divide where AI usage ranges from over 30% in urban Puget Sound counties to just 2.5% in rural Ferry County, positioning Washington as a national model for equitable AI adoption in education.
What you should know: The program provides comprehensive AI access and support starting January 2026, with tools designed to reduce administrative burdens for educators while giving students early exposure to emerging technologies.
- School districts and community colleges will receive free access to Copilot Studio for up to three years, allowing users to build custom AI agents without coding experience.
- Up to 10 school districts and 10 colleges will receive $25,000 in technology consultation services to help create and launch tailored AI agents.
- Microsoft will collaborate with the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Washington Education Association, and National Education Association to provide statewide AI training.
The big picture: Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab research revealed significant disparities in AI adoption across Washington state, particularly between urban and rural areas.
- The company found “a tenfold gap” in AI usage, with Ferry County residents using AI tools at dramatically lower rates than those in more connected regions.
- This digital divide represents what Microsoft calls “an opportunity gap” in tomorrow’s economy, where AI literacy will increasingly determine economic success.
Why this matters: The initiative aims to prevent AI access from becoming another factor that widens educational and economic inequality between urban and rural communities.
- By providing universal access to AI tools across all public educational institutions, Washington could become a testing ground for how states can democratize access to transformative technologies.
- The program addresses administrative efficiency while ensuring students gain familiarity with AI tools they’ll likely encounter in their future careers.
What they’re saying: Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad Smith emphasized the collaborative approach behind the initiative.
- “As we’ve learned firsthand from working for a decade on broadband accessibility across the state, this isn’t just a technology gap; it’s an opportunity gap,” Smith wrote. “Because in tomorrow’s economy, those who understand and use AI will do better than those who don’t.”
- “We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we’ve shaped this effort in close collaboration with a broad coalition of voices from across Washington,” he added. “Most importantly, we’re committed to working shoulder to shoulder with educators — because they are the driving force behind our shared vision for the future.”
Additional initiatives: Microsoft plans to expand beyond tool access with comprehensive educational programming and partnerships.
- The company will support role-based professional development, a Generative AI for Educators training series, and a statewide K-12 AI Innovation Summit.
- An open call for partners will seek to co-design scalable AI solutions with schools and colleges, while collaborations with nonprofits like Code.org will expand Hour of AI programs.
- Microsoft employees will volunteer as classroom resources to support the initiative’s educational goals.
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