WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Purdue University’s Scalable Asymmetric Lifecycle Engagement and SCALE K-12 programs will continue to prepare America’s youth for careers in emerging technologies thanks to a new partnership with high-performing compute platform Arm to launch the Arm EducateAI Coalition.
SCALE, led by Purdue, partners with universities, government and industry to prepare a highly skilled microelectronics workforce. The SCALE K-12 national initiative equips teachers and schools with the tools to design and implement engaging learning experiences in microelectronics.
“With SCALE and SCALE K-12 serving as the primary partners with Arm in this coalition, we are proud to help lead the Arm Education initiative within the EducateAI Coalition,” said Tamara Moore, a professor of engineering education, program director for SCALE K-12 and curriculum director for SCALE. “This critical effort ensures that young people are equipped with the knowledge and skills to engage meaningfully in the future workforce both as informed users and, for many, as emerging developers of AI technologies.”
This week at the White House, more than 100 organizations met to support the Pledge to America’s Youth: Investing in AI Education. The launch of the Arm EducateAI Coalition, a nationwide initiative focused on advancing AI literacy and providing students and educators with the knowledge and tools needed to succeed, was announced Thursday.
“This exciting partnership with Arm exemplifies Purdue’s strategy to maximize impact through intentional partnerships with industry,” said Dan DeLaurentis, Purdue’s executive vice president for research. “Further, this effort will activate the broader Purdue asset base including efforts from our Institute for Physical AI and broader Purdue Computes strategic programs.”
Purdue’s national leadership in microelectronics and semiconductors is a cornerstone of Purdue Computes — a comprehensive initiative that spans computing departments, physical artificial intelligence, quantum science and semiconductor innovation.
A national commitment to AI education
As part of the White House AI pledge, SCALE and SCALE K-12 — flagship workforce and science, technology, engineering and math education initiatives of the U.S. Department of Defense led by Purdue University — are contributing their expertise in microelectronics and advanced technology education. SCALE K-12 is taking a leading role in this effort through its national educator networks and curriculum design, while SCALE is using its network of community colleges and universities to expand the work in higher education. Both are working closely with Arm to expand access to AI learning. Arm is a critical driver of the AI revolution, providing the foundational compute platform that enables developers and partners to create and deploy intelligent, efficient and secure AI solutions at a global scale.
“By partnering, we are ensuring that U.S. students not only gain opportunities in the emerging semiconductor workforce but are also prepared for the broader future of work where AI will play a central role,” said Kerrie Douglas, an associate professor of engineering education and co-director of SCALE. “This collaboration enables SCALE and SCALE K-12 to address the immediate workforce needs of the nation while also laying the foundation for jobs that do not yet exist but will depend on AI literacy.”
By combining Arm’s global leadership in computing and AI education with SCALE K-12’s strengths in educator preparation and curriculum development, the coalition will create stronger pathways from classroom to career by bridging K-12 schools with SCALE universities and training programs.
What the coalition will deliver
Over the next four years, the coalition will provide:
- More than 500 workshops and training events delivered across the country
- 20 regional programs bringing AI tools into classrooms, reaching millions of students
- 40,000 teachers trained and certified, supported with classroom-ready curricula and credentials
- Engagement with more than 5,000 educational institutions, broadening access to AI learning nationwide
Building AI literacy across the learning journey
The coalition will provide a structured progression of AI knowledge and aptitude, equipping students with age-appropriate knowledge and hands-on skills at each stage of learning:
- Grades K-5: Core concepts, computational thinking and project-based learning
- Grades 6-8: Introduction to machine learning, data science and natural language processing
- Grades 9-12: Advanced coursework on AI models and their applications
- Higher education and workforce: Microcredentials and certifications through colleges and universities
Preparing educators
Teachers play a pivotal role in the success of this initiative. With support from SCALE K-12, the Arm EducateAI Coalition delivers essential resources and guidance to drive meaningful impact in classrooms nationwide through:
- Training and resources to integrate AI concepts into classrooms
- Classroom kits and curricula designed for practical AI applications
- Certification programs to expand AI teaching capacity nationally
- Leadership development opportunities to support sustainable AI education programs
Participating Purdue units include the School of Engineering Education, the Elmore Family School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Purdue Polytechnic’s Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation, and the College of Education’s Department of Curriculum and Instruction.
About Purdue University
Purdue University is a public research university leading with excellence at scale. Ranked among top 10 public universities in the United States, Purdue discovers, disseminates and deploys knowledge with a quality and at a scale second to none. More than 107,000 students study at Purdue across multiple campuses, locations and modalities, including more than 58,000 at our main campus locations in West Lafayette and Indianapolis. Committed to affordability and accessibility, Purdue’s main campus has frozen tuition 14 years in a row. See how Purdue never stops in the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap — including its integrated, comprehensive Indianapolis urban expansion; the Mitch Daniels School of Business; Purdue Computes; and the One Health initiative — at https://www.purdue.edu/
