Burbio School Tracker 10/7: Rapid Evolution

1. Burbio maintains a database of district checkbook registers covering over 20 million PreK-12 students. Information is searchable to the district level, and clients use the data for competitive intelligence and market analysis. Last week we ran a quarterly overview of districts writing checks to ChatGPT/Open AI, and in response to feedback, this week we add some additional AI-focused suppliers and adjust the format. 

Below is an overview of the percent of districts who wrote checks to ChatGPT/Open AI, MagicSchool, SchoolAI or to any of those three suppliers. We compare the percent of districts writing checks by supplier in the twelve-month periods ending August 2024, and August 2025, respectively, along with the combined two year period.

As noted last week, freemium versions of services, low-cost trials, and services being paid directly by staff can disguise the level of usage of these tools, and we take these figures as directional.

2. Burbio's Signals Tracker digests school board meeting minutes and allows clients to prompt the data with questions about initiatives. As the new school year begins we are seeing the expected acceleration of discussion of AI initiatives by districts. One of the things we note is the variety of local providers being used for AI professional development. Some examples: 

• Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, VA, "worked with William & Mary to help train AI Ambassadors who will work in schools to build out some professional learning for teachers."
• Tri-Cities ROP, CA, a CTE-themed district, featured a "guest speaker who shared valuable information on artificial intelligence (AI) . . . The next step is to encourage our staff to use AI to develop at least one lesson plan . . ."
• Pittsburgh School District, PA, contracted with the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh to provide professional learning focused on Artificial Intelligence. 
• In North Gibson School Corporation, IN, a board member attended an "AI in Education" seminar sponsored by the Indiana School Boards Association, noting the "district appears to be ahead of many districts statewide in preparing for AI use," while "emphasizing the importance of board guidance on this emerging technology."
• Missoula County Public Schools, MT, is partnering with Montana Digital Academy, the state's online program, around use of AI. 
• North Brunswick School District Township, NJ, sent a staffer to local workshops on "Artificial Intelligence in School Libraries," and "Artificial Intelligence, Schools, and the Law."

The AI training for educators is evolving rapidly as districts approach AI professional development through a mix of local and national efforts: 

• District-led efforts: Instructional coaches developing internal training and sharing best practices.
• Local and regional partners that are launching AI workshops and credential programs, as noted above.
• National providers: Organizations focused on AI, along with traditional professional development providers, are expanding and/or integrating AI into existing offerings.

3. Burbio's School Bond Tracker dataset features such elements as bond amount, coverage summary, vote date, approval status, document links, and more, accessible via both dashboards and keywords. Districts frequently provide status updates on bond-funded construction projects, including details on projects that are not yet started. This month we roll out a feature that adds that information. Some recent examples: 

• Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools, NC, updates over 20 different projects from their $2.5 billion bond in a simple format that displays a project description, percentage completion, project architects and construction managers, and a qualitative summary of project status. 
• Cheney Public Schools, WA, updated its 2024 $72 million bond, which features a new elementary school, HVAC updates, and district-wide 'old to new' infrastructure improvements. Projects range from nearing completion to the early stages.
• Sand Springs Public Schools, OK, updates its $114 million bond regularly, classifying projects completed, projects in progress, and projects pending.
• L'Anse Creuse Public Schools, MI, summarizes its $189 million bond and highlights projects still in development, including water filtration, mechanical controls, and electrical upgrades.
• Syosset Central School District, NY, uses an easy-to-view chart that summarizes the 30+ projects from their $144 million 2024 bond by year and status, from "in-design" to construction, with several yet to enter the in-design phase. 

4. Burbio has introduced a dataset of RFPs, adding to our existing datasets of state grants, school board meeting minutes, strategic plans, bonds, superintendent turnover, and more. RFPs are presented in a sortable dashboard by category and key identifier information. RFPs are updated daily. Below is a selection that appeared last Friday in our data.

• Rockwood School District, MO, is soliciting proposals for musical instrument supplies.
• Magnolia Independent School District, TX, is seeking proposals for the installation of silent panic alert technology to comply with Texas HB3 throughout the district.
• Scottsdale Unified School District, AZ, has issued an RFP for a learning management system.
• Clark County School District, NV, is soliciting bids for boiler parts.
• Corona-Norco Unified School District, CA, is looking for proposals for a district-wide mass notification and communication platform.