H.R. 5351 — NSF AI Education Act of 2025

This section amends the education-related uses of funds under the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (which directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) to support AI research, education, and workforce development) by striking "Faculty" from the heading of subsection (e)(2) and adding new subparagraphs (D)–(H) as follows: (1) authorizes NSF to award scholarships and fellowships to undergraduate and graduate students (including at community colleges) in AI-related degree programs—prioritizing AI teaching, AI and advanced manufacturing, and AI and agriculture—covering tuition, fees, stipends, and professional development for up to five years, paid directly to institutions, with outreach to rural-serving, emerging research, Tribal, and EPSCoR institutions; (2) authorizes NSF professional development fellowships to promote AI collaborations between higher education institutions (including community colleges) and industry, including supplementals for students and faculty, fellowships for industry professionals to teach students, and fellowships for K–12 teachers, counselors, and other professionals, covering costs for up to one year, paid directly to institutions; (3) directs NSF to conduct a nationwide outreach campaign to industry and students (from elementary through higher education) on NSF-funded AI education opportunities; (4) specifies eligibility for scholarships and fellowships as U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents demonstrating commitment to AI careers and accepting fellowship terms; and (5) requires NSF to submit to Congress, and make public, a report seven years after enactment evaluating these scholarships and fellowships, including legislative recommendations.

This section revises the centers of artificial intelligence (AI) excellence provision of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451(e)(3)(B)) to direct the National Science Foundation (NSF) Director, in coordination with the Department of Commerce's Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program and subject to appropriations, to designate up to eight regionally and geographically diverse Community College and Area Career and Technical Education Centers of AI Excellence. Eligible applicants are community colleges or area career and technical education schools (as defined in the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act of 2006) partnering with federal, state, local, Tribal, or territorial governments; institutions of higher education; private industry; economic or venture development organizations (as defined in 15 U.S.C. 3722(a)); or nonprofits. These centers enhance educational outcomes and workforce development by integrating AI into teaching, learning, and community engagement through activities such as (1) developing and disseminating best practices for AI research, education, and effects on education; (2) scaling successful AI programs; (3) providing strategies and resources for AI curriculum integration; (4) offering experiential learning opportunities; (5) identifying pathways to AI-enabled jobs; and (6) facilitating employer partnerships for apprenticeships, internships, and applied learning. Applications must describe focus areas aligned with regional investments, applicant capacity, workforce demands, data collection, and an outcome-oriented evaluation plan; NSF must evaluate center activities, integrate findings with related research, and submit a report with results and recommendations to Congress within 180 days of evaluation completion.

This section establishes National Science Foundation (NSF) awards, on a competitive merit-reviewed basis through new or existing programs, to eligible entities—institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, or consortia thereof with private sector entities—for research on artificial intelligence (AI) teaching models, tools, and materials; their integration into pre-kindergarten through grade 12 (pre-K-12) classrooms and teaching and learning; and their impacts on educational and learning outcomes. Awards support (1) preparing incoming K-12 teachers to integrate AI beneficially and innovatively; and (2) developing, piloting, fully implementing, or testing instructional materials and learning opportunities, new teacher preparation models, scalable professional development and support, tools and models for student success, and evaluations of teaching approaches' effects on outcomes. NSF must encourage award applicants to partner with entities experienced in AI integration in K-12 classrooms, consortia of schools, institutions of higher education, districts, nonprofits, or government entities, and school leaders committing to proposed reforms. This section also establishes an NSF pilot program of regional cohorts to provide peer support, mentoring, and hands-on research experiences to pre-K-12 educators, principals, and school leaders, building networks to collaborate on AI teaching and use, evaluate its effects on student outcomes, and engage with AI researchers, academia, and industry.