Building Rural AI Capacity Using a Proven AI Maturity Model

Rural and small school systems are eager to move forward with generative AI, but many lack the capacity, clarity, and coordinated leadership needed to do so responsibly. This session highlights a national partnership between CoSN and AESA that is helping districts build sustainable AI capacity through AI District Action Summits grounded in the CoSN/CGCS K-12 Gen AI Maturity Tool.

More than an assessment, the maturity approach helps leadership teams align around their district’s “AI Why,” surface risks and opportunities, and identify practical next steps across leadership, operations, data, security, and instruction. Through real district practitioner stories, participants will see how districts moved from uncertainty to coordinated action—and learn how this scalable, locally delivered model can be brought to their own region to support responsible AI adoption. Hear from National and Local AI Maturity Trainers based at Ed Service Centers and the AESA Executive Director.