March 27, 2026 · City of Boston
Mayor Michelle Wu joined Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper and tech entrepreneur Paul English to unveil a landmark public-private partnership designed to bring AI literacy to every Boston Public Schools high school student. English is contributing $1 million to launch the initiative, which will equip students and educators across the district with the AI skills and curriculum they need to succeed in an AI-driven world.
Boston becomes the first major U.S. city public school district to launch a comprehensive, districtwide AI literacy initiative of this kind. The program will initially launch in 20 BPS high schools, with plans for districtwide expansion.
"This is a public-private partnership between city government, higher education, and industry that will position Boston Public Schools as a leader in AI fluency for all students to understand this world responsibly."
— Mayor Michelle Wu
The partnership brings together the City of Boston, Boston Public Schools, UMass Boston, and Boston's technology industry. UMass Boston's Paul English Applied Artificial Intelligence Institute, described as the nation's first university-based institute dedicated to optimizing and democratizing the use of AI tools, will develop curriculum, provide educator training, and create student engagement opportunities.
Teacher training will begin in summer 2026 at UMass Boston, with students in the 20 launch schools beginning the curriculum in the 2026–27 school year.
The initiative includes:
"We want all of our students to have access to this kind of knowledge and real-world experiences that will open doors for them."
— Superintendent Mary Skipper, Boston Public Schools
Central to the initiative is the newly formed Boston Public AI Advisory Board, co-chaired by Paul English and Ellen Rubin, Operating Partner at Glasswing Ventures. The board brings together senior leaders from Boston-area technology companies to review curriculum, connect students with industry mentors, and ensure the program reflects real-world AI skills and practices.
"This initiative will not only transform educational and career opportunities for BPS students, but it will also accelerate AI adoption across all Boston businesses."
— Paul English, Co-Chair, Boston Public AI Advisory Board
Original press release published by the City of Boston. View the original at boston.gov.
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