NSF AI Education Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Senator Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
Introduced
Summary
Expand equitable AI education and workforce training by directing the National Science Foundation to create, fund, and run a coordinated set of programs for K–12, higher education, and workers, with special focus on rural, Tribal, low-income, and historically underrepresented communities.
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- Students and educators: Would fund research, teacher professional development, and K–12 guidance for introducing AI and related tech. It would authorize scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students and professional development for educators.
- Colleges, community colleges, and research hubs: Would establish at least five Centers of AI Excellence to scale hands-on programs and employment pathways, require at least 20 percent to be EPSCoR eligible, and set a seven year sunset for the centers. Awards and center activities would prioritize rural, Tribal, minority serving, and emerging institutions.
- Federal partners, industry, and security: Would tighten NSF gift rules to block funding from foreign entities of concern and require security compliance. It would also make the National Institute of Standards and Technology develop workforce frameworks and codify recurring updates to the cybersecurity education framework.
All activities would be subject to appropriations and standard merit review and civil rights requirements.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Scholarships and fellowships for AI training
If enacted, NSF would offer scholarships and fellowships for AI and quantum study. Undergraduate scholarships would cover tuition, fees, and a stipend for up to 4 years. Graduate scholarships would cover tuition, fees, and a stipend for up to 3 years. NSF would also fund merit fellowships for working STEM and education professionals and quantum fellowships that may include temporary placements; prize challenges would target training 1,000,000 or more workers by 2030. All awards would be competitively reviewed and only made if Congress provides funding.
K-12 AI guidance and outreach
If enacted, NSF would fund K–12 research on teaching AI and would support teacher professional development and evidence-based instructional materials, with priority for low-income, rural, and Tribal students. NSF, Education, Labor, NIST, OSTP, and IES would produce K–12 AI guidance within two years. NSF would also run a nationwide outreach campaign to raise awareness of AI and quantum education, prioritizing underserved and rural areas. All activities would only happen if Congress provides funds.
Community college centers and AI access
If enacted, NSF would fund awards to expand access to AI tools at community colleges, HBCUs, MSIs, Tribal Colleges, EPSCoR and emerging institutions, and technical schools. NSF would designate at least five Community College and Vocational School Centers of AI Excellence, with at least 20% in EPSCoR-eligible States; centers would teach hands-on skills, share best practices, and report annually. The Agriculture Department and NSF could also give grants to land-grant colleges for AI in farming and outreach to rural areas. All activities would only run if Congress appropriates money.
National AI workforce frameworks and skills
If enacted, NIST would be required to develop and maintain workforce frameworks for AI and other critical technologies. NIST would assess needs and report within 180 days and publish an AI workforce framework within 540 days. Frameworks must be reviewed at least every three years, include competencies and work roles, and be available in multiple languages. The bill would also codify recurring updates to the national cybersecurity workforce framework.
Program rules, funding, and security limits
If enacted, no activity under this Act would be required or funded unless Congress appropriates money. NSF would have 180 days to set gift-acceptance rules that ban gifts from foreign countries or foreign entities of concern. Awards under the Act would have to meet named research-security laws and rules. NSF could not give awards to institutions found to violate Title VI for discrimination on the basis of shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics on or after January 1, 2020. These rules would affect who can receive funds and how programs run.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Moran, Jerry [R-KS]
KS • R
Cosponsors
Sen. Cantwell, Maria [D-WA]
WA • D
Sponsored 3/2/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov