What we're measuring in SY26-27
Choose your pathway.
Three sets of coherent, aligned instruments, all built around one goal: cultivating AI empowerment and agency for educators and students.
Two national data cycles
Fall cycleAugust 3 – November 20, 2026
Spring cycleFebruary 1 – May 28, 2027
For District Leaders6 instruments
Leverage the Index to gauge your district's AI innovation progress over time relative to peer systems nationally.
Are students developing AI agency?
Student AI Agency30-Second Bi-Annual Pulse Survey
Three items covering how students talk about, think with, and build with AI at school.
1AI Discourse“At school, we have real conversations about AI’s opportunities and risks for our community and world.”
2Critical AI Engagement“At school, I am learning how to use AI to strengthen my own thinking, not replace it.”
3AI Agency“At school, I am learning how to design and build with AI to address real-world challenges.”
Student Applied AI LiteracyNew20-Minute Baseline, Formative, & Summative Performance Tasks
Fall launch with a summer pilot. Two rubric domains, each scored 1–4, based on the student’s actual AI conversation and final written response.
Quality of AI Interaction Moves4 items
4Uphold RigorUses AI as a thinking partner and pushes their own thinking further.
3Neutral (active)Targeted support tied to their own idea, then builds on it.
2Neutral (receptive)Legitimate use, but the engagement does not develop the thinking.
1Collapse RigorAsks AI to do the core work of the task.
Critical Application to Writing4 items
4AuthoredFinal response reflects the student’s own reasoning throughout.
3AdaptedOwn thinking is the foundation, with AI input lightly transformed.
2BorrowedAI framing and structure are the foundation of the response.
1CopiedAI output transferred directly with little or no change.
Are stakeholders empowered and supportive?
Staff AI Empowerment30-Second Bi-Annual Pulse Survey
Four scored items plus an opening role selector (teacher, teaching assistant, school leader, central office, and more).
1AI Leadership“Leaders in my organization encourage responsible AI innovation.”
2AI Discourse“In my immediate work team, we openly discuss AI’s benefits and challenges for our workflows.”
3AI Competency Development“My organization has invested in building my capacity to work effectively with AI in my role.”
4AI for Role Efficacy“AI tools help me perform my role more effectively.”
Family AI SentimentNew30-Second Bi-Annual Pulse Survey
A new instrument for SY26-27. Opens with a grade-level selector, then three scored items and one optional open response.
1Personal AI Use“I regularly use AI tools (such as ChatGPT) in my personal life or work.”
2AI Outlook“Knowing how to use AI with skill and good judgment will be important to my child’s future.”
3AI Readiness“My child’s school is helping my child build the skill and good judgment to use AI well.”
4Family VoiceOptional open response on how families are thinking about AI.
Individual Technical AI LiteracyNew5-Minute Technical AI Literacy Self-Assessment
An individual assessment across nine domains of practical AI capability.
Frontier AwarenessUnderstanding and calibrating model capabilities
Prompting & Context EngineeringProviding context and encoding reusable instructions
Agentic DelegationDelegating and overseeing multi-step AI work
Building & AutomationCreating and evaluating AI-built tools and automations
Tool, Data & Systems IntegrationConnecting AI safely to tools, data, and systems
Verification & OversightVerifying AI output and designing quality controls
Technical Architecture & Vendor JudgmentEvaluating AI systems, architecture, and vendor claims
Data Governance, Privacy & ContinuityGoverning AI data access, privacy, and dependency risks
AI Economics & Cost ManagementUnderstanding and managing the full cost of AI use
Are senior leaders setting the conditions for AI empowerment and agency amongst stakeholders?
District Leadership Condition-Setting10-Minute Bi-Annual Questionnaire Completed by AI Designees
Senior leaders rate the district on 26 items across five domains. Each item is scored on a four-level scale, from Not Discussing Yet through Advanced Execution.
Vision, Strategy, & Structures4 items
1Set a Shared VisionAI-specific values and strategy that cohere with existing organizational vision.
2Lead a Task ForceA convening body with C-suite membership or regular reporting to the C-suite.
3Establish Role ClarityAI leadership in senior job descriptions and scorecards, with clear decision rights.
4Establish Staff Usage PolicyGuardrails for PII and compliance with FERPA, COPPA, and state law.
Stakeholder Engagement4 items
5Learn from StaffCollect data on staff usage of and perspectives on AI.
6Learn from StudentsCollect data on student usage of and perspectives on AI.
7Learn from FamiliesCollect data on family perspectives on AI.
8Execute a Strategic External Communications PlanA proactive plan for sharing how and why the system approaches AI.
Innovative Culture3 items
9Build & Amplify an AI Innovation CoalitionInnovators and early adopters convened with permission, time, and support.
10Institutionalize Structured AI PilotingDefined scope, named participants, documented learning, not under the radar.
11Manage AI-Assisted Work for QualityIntentional practices that keep AI-assisted work at the organization’s bar.
Operational & Talent Systems & Practice8 items
12Adopt an Enterprise AI PlatformEquitable staff access with data privacy protection.
13Manage AI Costs for SustainabilityVisibility into usage and spend, attributed to use cases or departments.
14Evolve Procurement & Data Privacy PracticeVendor data retention and model-training terms reviewed before purchase.
15Govern Staff-Built AI ToolsA sanctioned pathway with approved build platforms and review at creation.
16Develop Staff AI CompetencyStructured learning that reaches broadly across roles, not only early adopters.
17Hire for AI CompetencyAI-related competencies incorporated into hiring criteria.
18Leverage AI for Adult Non-Instructional Workflow EfficacyStep-by-step decisions about where AI does and does not belong.
19Govern Data & Knowledge for AIAuthoritative sources named and owned so AI answers are grounded.
Instructional Systems & Practice7 items
20Evolve Portrait of a GraduateA graduate profile reflecting competencies for an AI-shaped world.
21Ensure College & Career Advising Addresses AIStructured chances for students to examine how AI is changing fields.
22Norm Instructional Community on Student AI Usage ExpectationsA shared usage framework with instructional staff trained on it.
23Develop Student Understanding of AIHow AI works, its capabilities and limits, and its societal impacts.
24Develop Student Capability to Use & Build With AIProgramming for judgment, discernment, and creation with AI.
25Evaluate Student-Facing AI for ImpactIntended use, target outcomes, and implementation quality monitored.
26Leverage AI for Adult Instructional Workflow EfficacyHuman review calibrated to the stakes of the work.
For SEA Leaders3 instruments
Leverage the Index to answer the questions below and gauge your agency's AI innovation progress over time relative to peer agencies nationally.
Developed in partnership with
Are SEA stakeholders empowered?
SEA Staff AI EmpowermentNew30-Second Bi-Annual Pulse Survey
A new instrument for SY26-27. Four scored items on how state agency staff experience the conditions for working with AI.
1AI Leadership“My agency’s leadership has set a vision that addresses AI’s implications for our internal operations and broader leadership of schools.”
2AI Discourse“In my immediate work team, we openly discuss AI’s benefits and challenges for our workflows.”
3AI Competency Development“My agency has invested in building my capacity to work effectively with AI in my role.”
4AI for Role Efficacy“AI tools help me perform my role more effectively.”
Individual Technical AI LiteracyNew5-Minute Technical AI Literacy Self-Assessment
An individual assessment across nine domains of practical AI capability.
Frontier AwarenessUnderstanding and calibrating model capabilities
Prompting & Context EngineeringProviding context and encoding reusable instructions
Agentic DelegationDelegating and overseeing multi-step AI work
Building & AutomationCreating and evaluating AI-built tools and automations
Tool, Data & Systems IntegrationConnecting AI safely to tools, data, and systems
Verification & OversightVerifying AI output and designing quality controls
Technical Architecture & Vendor JudgmentEvaluating AI systems, architecture, and vendor claims
Data Governance, Privacy & ContinuityGoverning AI data access, privacy, and dependency risks
AI Economics & Cost ManagementUnderstanding and managing the full cost of AI use
Are SEA leaders setting the conditions for AI empowerment and agency across schools?
SEA Leadership Condition-SettingNew10-Minute Bi-Annual Questionnaire Completed by AI Designees
Nineteen items across seven sections, each with a suggested agency owner and four levels from Not yet on the radar to Executing with depth.
Vision and Field Leadership · Chief State School Officer2 items
1Signal that AI MattersThe chief publicly and consistently positions AI integration as a system priority.
2Advocate for Enabling Ecosystem ConditionsEngages policymakers on assessment, accountability, and regulatory questions.
Strategy and Governance · Chief of Staff / Strategy5 items
3Resource a Dedicated AI LeaderA high-capacity leader with dedicated time and direct access to the chief.
4Establish Cross-Functional GovernanceClear decision rights across instruction, assessment, technology, and legal.
5Develop Internal AI FluencyAn approved platform, structured training, and norms for internal use.
6Establish Data Infrastructure to Inform StrategyStructured, non-burdensome data collection on where districts stand.
7Build a Multi-Year Strategy and Funding PlanSequenced priorities, named owners, and resourcing.
Field Capacity Building · Chief Academic & Talent Officers4 items
8Invest in District Leader Capacity-BuildingExecutive learning experiences, institutes, and peer cohorts.
9Curate and Amplify High-Quality Frameworks from the FieldA trusted clearinghouse that vets frameworks for the field.
10Foster Collaborative Leader PracticeStructured conditions for leaders to make their work visible to each other.
11Support Cross-District Conversations About Future-Ready CompetenciesCommon language and exemplars for what students need.
Technology, Data, and Guardrails · Chief Technology / Information Officer2 items
12Issue Privacy, Security, and Acceptable Use StandardsClear AI-specific standards aligned to state and federal law.
13Enable District Platform Access and Provide Procurement ResourcesStatewide contracts that give small districts affordable access.
District Convening and Support · Chief of District Support4 items
14Convene District Leader Learning NetworksStructured cohorts with regular touchpoints tied to real work.
15Differentiate Support by District Readiness and NeedSupport tailored to district context, capacity, and need.
16Invest in Regional Support StructuresFunded regional agencies, coaching networks, or university partners.
17Spotlight Bright Spots and Promising PracticeSurfacing exemplars identified through data rather than reputation.
Assessment & Accountability · Chief Assessment / Accountability Officer1 items
18Lead the Evolution of Statewide Assessment & Accountability for an AI-Shaped WorldR&D capacity for next-generation assessment in an AI-shaped world.
Strategic Communication & Public Trust · Cross-cutting1 items
19Build and Protect Public TrustProactive, two-way communication on AI use, data protection, and oversight.
For Regional Quarterbacks2 instruments
Leverage the Index to answer the questions below and gauge your organization's AI innovation progress over time relative to peers nationally.
Developed in partnership with
Are regional quarterback staff building their own technical AI capability?
Individual Technical AI LiteracyNew5-Minute Technical AI Literacy Self-Assessment
An individual assessment across nine domains of practical AI capability.
Frontier AwarenessUnderstanding and calibrating model capabilities
Prompting & Context EngineeringProviding context and encoding reusable instructions
Agentic DelegationDelegating and overseeing multi-step AI work
Building & AutomationCreating and evaluating AI-built tools and automations
Tool, Data & Systems IntegrationConnecting AI safely to tools, data, and systems
Verification & OversightVerifying AI output and designing quality controls
Technical Architecture & Vendor JudgmentEvaluating AI systems, architecture, and vendor claims
Data Governance, Privacy & ContinuityGoverning AI data access, privacy, and dependency risks
AI Economics & Cost ManagementUnderstanding and managing the full cost of AI use
Are regional quarterback leaders setting the conditions for AI empowerment and agency across the systems they serve?
Regional Quarterback Condition-SettingNew10-Minute Bi-Annual Questionnaire Completed by AI Designees
Eleven tracks across four phases — Orient, Organize, Mobilize, and Fund — each scored on four levels, from Not yet on the radar to Executing with depth.
Orient · Identify the leader and cultivate vision2 items
AResource a dedicated AI leaderReal bandwidth, decision authority, and direct access to the CEO.
BCultivate a shared AI visionA locally grounded case for why AI matters across the school networks served.
Organize · Fluency, convening, and data3 items
CDevelop internal AI fluencySo the organization can engage network leaders credibly and model intentional use.
DBuild ongoing capacity with school network leadersA community of practice tied to leaders’ existing strategic priorities.
EEstablish measurement and baseline dataPortfolio-level data on leadership conditions, staff readiness, and student experience.
Mobilize · Invest, shape conditions, engage the field5 items
FInvest across the full array of opportunitiesAdult workflows, instructional supports, student tools, and student AI readiness.
GBuild a proactive approach to AI risk managementCoherence, equity, academic integrity, and vendor dependency.
HShape the conditions for school-level innovationAccountability, assessment, and regulatory constraints.
IEngage families and communitiesProactive, accessible communication and real channels for family input.
JConnect to national learning infrastructureBenchmarking data and shared learning across regions.
Fund · Across all phases1 items
KSecure sustainable fundingA multi-year plan grounded in baseline data and longitudinal results.
Go deeper
The complete set of rubrics
for every instrument.
Every rubric level and item, in full — for district leaders, state education agencies, and regional quarterbacks.