Burbio School Tracker 8/25: Few and Far Between

1.  Burbio's State-Level Funding Tracker features state-specific grants for PreK-12 schools, covering all state departments and agencies. Burbio's database consists of over $40 billion of grants, and this week we provide an update on category totals. Clients are alerted when relevant grants are identified and reach out to districts to make them aware of the opportunity: 

• The majority of grants apply to multiple categories so it's important to look at each category size in isolation and not add figures together. 
• State grants are written clearly, but they can also be a bit broad and not mention specific service elements. We encourage partners to review categories under which they often work. 
• The State-Level Funding Tracker does not include Federal formula grants (e.g. Title 1).

Even as K-12 budgets tighten, new opportunities emerge for those who can spot the right signals. Burbio’s datasets reveal where to focus -  click here to schedule a quick demo.

2.  In last week's Tracker we highlighted the emerging area of state-level AI policies. The number of school districts that have issued AI policies remains few and far between, as the speed of adoption in instructional programs and teacher usage appears to be outpacing formal policy guidance at the local level. This week we look at some of the districts that have issued plans. Here are some of the frameworks we see covered: 

• Ethics, Integrity & Responsible Use
  • Academic Integrity: Districts set clear expectations around plagiarism, AI-assisted assignments, and disclosure
  • Privacy & Data Protection: Policies consistently reference FERPA and COPPA
  • Ethical Standards: Districts stress bias awareness, accuracy, and human oversight

• AI Literacy, Learning, and Classroom Integration
  • Student & Teacher Guidance: Policies describe how AI may be used for brainstorming, research, and creative projects
  • Grade-Level Differentiation: With breakouts such as K-5, 6-8, and 9-12
  • Teacher Empowerment: AI is framed as a support tool that can enhance efficiency and personalize instruction

• Equity, Access, Support Systems
  • Professional development for staff
  • Accessibility with emphasis on ADA compliance, and access for diverse learners

The nature of the guidance and implementation can differ:

• Where we see guidance, it is frequently through board-approved policies. The level of implementation details varies by district.
• There is widespread formation of committees for stakeholder engagement, and commitment to ongoing reviews of policy.
• Some districts feature website resources that detail AI usage for parents and community.
• Some offer lists of approved vendors and/or references to ongoing review processes for services. 

Here are some examples of district plans and what they feature:

• West Allegheny School District, PA, employs a 0-4 "AI Acceptable Use Scale" defining what level of AI use is permitted per assignment, prohibits the use of AI with unapproved data practices, and allows for AI use for budgeting and analytics.   
• Northport-East Northport Free Union School District, NY, features a grade-specific AI framework, AI acknowledgement forms, and emphasis on parent engagement and professional development.
• Noblesville Schools, IN, presents a resource/FAQ section on the technology portion of their website that provides AI literacy concepts for families and staff, explains how AI is used in the district, and includes a section titled, "What are some of our favorite AI tools?"
• Hillsborough County Public Schools, FL, has a comprehensive plan that covers everything from staff, parent, and student guidance, approved vendors, a professional development guide, and access for multilingual students and staff. 
• East Greenwich Public Schools, RI, includes their AI policy on the "Teaching and Learning" section of their website and includes a section on the use of AI content detectors, professional development, and alignment with state standards, while designating the Assistant Superintendent for Teaching and Learning as the point person for age-appropriate usage of AI. 

Other interesting plans include New Haven Public School District, CT, Indianapolis Public Schools, IN, and Emporia Public Schools, KS.

We anticipate a sharp rise in district-level policies during the 2025–26 school year as districts move from early adoption to structured implementation.   

• Rahway Public Schools, NJ,  will create a “Parent Academy” in 2025-26 "to enhance collaboration with the community and school so that there is a shared experience in learning for families and stakeholders." 
• Allentown School District, PA, is breaking ground on a Family and Community Resource Center, which "will provide a range of services, including physical and behavioral health resources, workforce development, centralized enrollment and registration, and other support services."
• The Coordinator for Family Engagement for Gadsden Independent Schools, NM, discussed the expansion of their programming in a recent board meeting, including the use of communication tools to promote the events. 

• Bentonville Schools, AR,  picked SchoolStatus as a communication platform and will be rolling it out in 2025-26. 
• Gilbert Public Schools, AZ,  approved an agreement with the communication platform ParentSquare. 
• Springfield School District 186, IL, approved an agreement with Capturing Kids Hearts for one of the elementary schools, a program designed "to implement transformational  processes to strengthen connectedness and build a relationship-driven culture for schools, students, and families."