ST. LOUIS, MO, October 30, 2026 — Scale today joined U.S. Congressman Wesley Bell, the University of Missouri–St. Louis (UMSL), and Lindbergh Schools to celebrate the launch of Fundamentals of AI for Educators, a 12-hour, self-paced course and microcredential , designed to help K–12 teachers use AI effectively and ethically in their classrooms. The course is available nationwide at no cost through UMSL’s Advanced Workforce Center.

Teachers are foundational to AI literacy. They help students develop the knowledge and judgment to navigate changing technologies throughout their education and working lives. By investing in educators, the partnership aims to extend that capability across successive groups of students and school communities.

The launch, marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at UMSL's Richter Family Welcome and Alumni Center, represents an important step in Scale's commitment to expanding AI literacy across the United States. In June 2025, Scale joined the White House's Pledge to American Youth, committing to help train 1,000 teachers and equip 500,000 students with foundational AI skills by 2029.

Developed in collaboration with Scale AI engineers and education experts, Lindbergh Schools, and UMSL, the new program provides educators with practical training on how to use AI responsibly, strengthen classroom instruction, and prepare students for a future in which AI will play an increasingly important role.

"Teachers play an essential role in helping students understand and use AI, and they need access to practical training that reflects the realities of their classrooms," said AJ Segal, Head of Scale's STL AI Center. "Our commitment is to make that training more accessible across the country. We're proud to begin this work with partners here in St. Louis who bring deep experience in education, and to build a program that can reach teachers and students well beyond Missouri."

Developed in St. Louis, Available to Educators Nationwide

Twenty Lindbergh teachers piloted the curriculum over the summer, helping shape a program grounded in the practical needs of educators.

Through the course, teachers will learn how to use AI ethically and effectively, identify opportunities to personalize instruction, and help students develop skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and responsible technology use.

Participants will also develop a classroom-ready instructional artifact that meaningfully integrates AI into a specific learning objective, giving them a practical resource they can apply directly to their teaching. Educators who complete it will receive a certificate of completion and a microcredential with a digital badge that can be displayed on their professional profiles.

At today's launch, Congressman Bell joined leaders from the three partner organizations to recognize the initiative and celebrate Lindbergh teachers who completed the pilot program. Participating educators also demonstrated the course and shared their experiences incorporating AI into their teaching.

"We are grateful for this opportunity to partner with a global leader in artificial intelligence, and for this generous partnership that will share their expertise to train up Lindbergh teachers and ultimately impact student success," said Dr. Tony Lake, Superintendent of Lindbergh Schools.

"The Advanced Workforce Center was created to help bridge the gap between workforce demand and workforce readiness," said Reggie Hill, UMSL's Vice Chancellor for Strategic Enrollment and Career Advancement. "This partnership aligns perfectly with that mission by fostering collaboration, expanding access to training for teachers, and creating new opportunities for them to not only learn but pass that knowledge on to their students."

Building on Scale's National AI Literacy Commitment

The launch is part of Scale's broader AI Literacy Initiative, established to help make AI education more accessible to teachers and students across the United States.

Teachers bring a distinctive opportunity to this work. They guide new groups of learners year after year, adapting their teaching as technologies and educational needs change. Supporting their capability can help students develop habits of critical inquiry that remain useful as AI tools evolve.

As AI becomes more widely used in everyday life, schools have an increasingly important role in helping students understand how these systems work, where they can be useful, and how to engage with them responsibly. Giving educators access to practical training is an important part of that effort.

Scale's commitment to the White House's Pledge to American Youth reflects this priority. By 2029, the company has pledged to help train 1,000 teachers and equip 500,000 students with foundational AI skills.

The partnership with Lindbergh Schools and UMSL establishes a model for advancing that commitment. Lindbergh brings direct classroom experience and curriculum expertise, Scale contributes technical knowledge and resources, and UMSL provides the infrastructure to make the training available to educators nationwide.

With the course now accessible beyond Missouri, the initiative creates an opportunity to reach additional teachers and school communities across the country. Scale will continue exploring partnerships with educators and institutions to broaden access to practical AI learning opportunities as it works toward its 2029 goals.

Continuing Scale's Investment in St. Louis

St. Louis is an important center for Scale's work with public sector partners and the broader AI ecosystem. We have continued to invest in the region through partnerships focused on expanding access to AI expertise, supporting local talent, and bringing AI technology into practical use.

The collaboration with UMSL and Lindbergh Schools builds on that presence by connecting Scale's technical expertise with educators who understand the needs of their students and communities.

What began as a locally developed and piloted curriculum can now serve teachers across the country, demonstrating how partnerships rooted in local expertise can create opportunities for broader impact.

As Scale continues working toward its national AI literacy commitment, initiatives like Fundamentals of AI for Educators will help make AI education more accessible and give teachers practical resources to prepare students for the opportunities ahead.

Learn more about Fundamentals of AI for Educators and register for the free course.