Empowering education systems, educators, and students to thrive in the AI-era.

Classrooms are places of possibility where curiosity meets knowledge, and potential becomes reality. At Microsoft, we’ve supported education systems, leaders, educators, and students for over 50 years, and remain dedicated to this mission as education is reimagined in the age of AI. Trustworthy AI, combined with practical skills for educators, can amplify teacher expertise making instruction more responsive, freeing time for human connection, and ensuring every learner can actively participate in the opportunities of this new era.

Today we’re excited to advance our offerings, bringing together secure, education-specific technology, supported by skill‑building programs to empower every school, educator, and student to thrive with confidence in an AI‑powered future. We’re announcing Microsoft Elevate for Educators, a program connecting educators with community, professional development, and AI tools to transform teaching. In addition, we’ve launched new AI-powered tools purpose-built for education, including Teach in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app to streamline lesson preparation. For educators that have Copilot+ PCs, Microsoft Learning Zone can provide rich, dynamic interactive experiences using on-device intelligence to engage students better.

The new Study and Learn Agent provides students with an AI-powered learning companion to understand concepts and practice skills. We’re also offering higher education students free 12-month access to Microsoft 365 Premium and LinkedIn Premium Career, supporting them from classroom learning to career readiness. These offerings are designed specifically for schools to help build capacity, develop essential skills, and create more engaging teaching and learning experiences.

Introducing Microsoft Elevate for Educators

The Microsoft Elevate for Educators program is part of the company’s broader Microsoft Elevate commitment to help schools and educators build skills, expand opportunities, and ensure everyone benefits from AI. Through Microsoft Elevate, Microsoft aims to help more than 20 million people gain in-demand AI skilling credentials in the next two years and advance AI education and workforce readiness globally.

The Microsoft Elevate for Educators program equips educators and school leaders with access to one of the world’s largest and most connected peer educator networks, offers free professional development resources and access to in-demand credentials to confidently integrate AI into the classroom. Microsoft Elevate for Educators is available today and includes:

• New global communities for K-12 educators and schools. Educators and schools worldwide face the challenge of integrating AI in ways that truly benefit every student. In response, Microsoft is launching significant updates to its global educator community to help educators strengthen skills, gain recognition, and collaborate globally on best practices in AI-powered teaching. The new Microsoft Elevate for Educators and Microsoft Elevate Schools communities build on our existing global community and now offer year-round membership, expanded training opportunities and resources, and a progressive achievement system for educators to advance as they learn. For the first time, school districts, systems, and ministries can gain special recognition for supporting educators’ professional growth and demonstrating measurable impact in classrooms and across education systems.
• Professional development for educators globally. Free professional development and associated credentials help educators earn recognition for demonstrated skills that can qualify for salary increases or career advancement. The AI Skills Navigator helps educators learn new skills through a suite of new self-paced courses, live sessions, and AI-powered simulations available in more than 13 languages. Also launching during Bett UK 2026, Microsoft is providing educators with a new AI in Special Education course to help enhance and customize student learning.
• Industry-recognized credentials for educators. Available at no cost, the new Microsoft Elevate for Educators Credential, developed in partnership with ISTE+ASCD and aligned to the AI Literacy Framework, helps educators gain confidence and expertise in integrating AI into their teaching and learning. Educators worldwide will also have access to study materials for other Microsoft certifications, including a new Microsoft certification in Instructional Technology which will be made available to educators in the coming months.

In higher education, we continue to partner with colleges and universities to integrate AI into classrooms, empower faculty, and equip students with future-ready skills. Through AI Skills Navigator, we support the entire campus ecosystem. Microsoft Learn for Educators and AI Bootcamps support faculty with ready-to-use Microsoft Official Courseware, making it easier to teach, learn, and apply AI responsibly. And our Microsoft Student Ambassadors program nurtures a vibrant student body and accelerates learning through skilling events, AI adoption, and credentials. Explore more with The Skills Hub Blog.

AI tools designed for education

AI can be a powerful complement to educator expertise. Many of our education tools are available at no cost for Microsoft 365 Education customers such as Teach and the Study and Learn Agent and can help educators save time, simplify planning, and engage students. Additionally, educators, staff, and students can advance their AI journey with a deeply integrated experience and the latest innovations through an academic offering of Microsoft 365 Copilot.

To provide leaders with guidance on responsible and effective AI adoption, we’re sharing a new IDC White Paper, sponsored by Microsoft, A Blueprint for AI-Ready Schools: Strategies from the Front Lines of K-12 Education.¹ It highlights lessons learned from early adopters, such as Brisbane Catholic Education in Australia, Broward County Schools in the United States, and Coquitlam School District in Canada, and outlines opportunities for integrating AI into schools.

Teach: Your AI assistant for instruction and more

Now available in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app, Teach helps streamline class preparation with intuitive, customizable features including lesson plan creation, quiz, rubric development, and adapting materials to different reading levels. With Teach, you can quickly generate lesson plans aligned to relevant standards, modify content for diverse learners, and adjust difficulty levels with simple prompts. Available at no additional cost for education customers, Teach helps you save time and stay focused on your students’ success.

Microsoft Learning Zone: Bringing the power of Copilot+ PCs to education

Copilot+ PCs are Microsoft’s most advanced laptops yet, combining the power of next-generation hardware with on-device AI and deep Windows integration. Microsoft Learning Zone is an AI-powered Windows app designed to use on-device intelligence on Copilot+ PCs to deliver real educational value. With this new Copilot+ PC app, educators can quickly create, share, and track personalized and interactive learning activities right from their device, instantly boosting student engagement. Students can engage with these activities on any Windows 11 PC to receive immediate feedback and personalized coaching. Microsoft Learning Zone has earned the ISTE Seal of Alignment for learning design, usability, and research-backed teaching practices.

The app draws on trusted content partners, including NASA, OpenStax, PBS NewsHour, the Nobel Peace Center, World Wildlife Fund, Figma, and Minecraft Education—to support high-quality learning experiences. New content additions include the Nobel Peace Center lesson collection, which explores peace, justice, and human rights through stories of laureates such as Malala Yousafzai and Wangari Maathai, alongside companion activities in Minecraft Education.

Educators can share Learning Zone content anywhere through Microsoft Teams, with learning management system (LMS) integration expected later in 2026. It currently supports English and Spanish, with Portuguese, French, German, and additional languages planned for 2026.

Study and Learn Agent: Supporting student growth

The Study and Learn Agent, built on learning science principles, is designed to help students ages 13 and older engage more deeply with academic concepts to develop critical and reflective thinking skills. Students can work to understand concepts, practice with adaptive exercises, explore topics through guided study, or engage with built-in activities like flashcards, matching exercises, and quizzes. Study and Learn will provide students with an AI-powered learning companion that supports their growth and independence.

Supporting students in higher education

Students are already using AI-powered tools for writing, research, creativity, and career planning. For a limited time, eligible higher education students can now get 12 months of Microsoft 365 Premium and LinkedIn Premium Career—two powerful subscriptions working together to support academic success and jump start careers. The offer is an all-in-one AI-powered plan to help students excel in every aspect of campus life, from writing research papers and organizing class notes, to creating standout presentations and applying for internships and jobs, available at no extra cost for eligible students.²

Trusted resources for education leaders

Security, trust, and accessibility are foundational in education. We’re proud to introduce the Microsoft Education Security Toolkit, a comprehensive resource designed to help education institutions simplify and strengthen their cybersecurity posture. It provides practical guidance for education leaders on everything from strategic planning and compliance to implementation scenarios and real-world case studies.

For organizations just getting started, the Microsoft Education AI Toolkit offers a practical starting point. It includes real-world customer stories, guidance for responsible AI adoption, snapshots of AI usage, and a wealth of information to help you on your AI journey! Read stories and best practices from other education institutions.

Join us in shaping the future of education together

Microsoft is committed to supporting education systems, leaders, educators, and students as learning is reimagined in the age of AI. With tools, skilling, resources, and programs, we aim to help you reclaim time for what matters most: inspiring students, fostering curiosity, and nurturing the next generation of thinkers, creators, and leaders.

Heading to Bett UK 2026 from January 21–23, 2026? Visit Microsoft at stand SM20 to explore our latest innovations. See our full program and explore the 2026 agenda.

¹ IDC White Paper, sponsored by Microsoft, A Blueprint for AI-Ready Campuses: Strategies from the Front Lines of K-12 Education, #US54034625, December 2025.

² With select market restrictions, check here for availability and details.

The post Introducing Microsoft innovations and programs to support AI-powered teaching and learning appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Microsoft is committed to ensuring that as AI innovation transforms our world, we’re equipping people with the skills, knowledge, and tools to thrive with AI. That’s why we partnered with CSforALL and a coalition of organizations including Code.org to bring educators, students, and communities around the world a new kind of learning experience: Hour of AI. Building on the momentum of Hour of Code and Computer Science (CS) Education Week, Hour of AI is designed to spark curiosity, build foundational skills, and empower 25 million learners of all ages to take their first step into understanding and creating with AI.¹ 

What is Hour of AI? 

Hour of AI is a global initiative designed to make AI literacy accessible, inclusive, and fun. With just one class and no prior experience, educators can engage learners of all ages with interactive activities and guided exploration to understand how AI works and how it’s shaping the world around us. 

With age-appropriate activities for learners at all levels, Hour of AI helps meet educators and students where they are on their own AI learning journeys. Whether you’re a classroom teacher, leading a school district, running an education nonprofit, or simply a parent or caregiver at home who wants to help your student engage with AI, there are ways for you to participate in Hour of AI.  

Explore three new Hour of AI activities from Microsoft 

From surviving the night with the help of an AI agent in Minecraft to coding and competing in Microsoft MakeCode, students can explore AI through familiar games and apps. Download free resources to help facilitate an Hour of AI in your classroom, school, or community and unlock AI education for all your students.

Minecraft Hour of AI: The First Night 

The new activity from Minecraft Education, Hour of AI: The First Night, challenges students to survive their first night in Minecraft, but with an AI twist! They’ll gather resources and build shelter before sunset with the help of AI agents, discovering how algorithms work and tackling problem-solving challenges through guided prompts that connect gameplay to real AI concepts. The First Night activity is available as a free demo in 29 languages, with classroom-ready lesson plans and educator materials.  

Access step-by-step facilitator training to plan and deliver a Minecraft Hour of AI lesson and connect to AI literacy and computer science standards.

Bug Arena from MakeCode 

Bug Arena from MakeCode is a free, game-based tutorial that introduces foundational AI concepts through coding and competition, where students design algorithms for their own Bug and send it into battle against other AI-powered bugs. They’ll write simple code to control movement and strategy, discovering how AI works through hands-on problem-solving, and experimenting to improve their Bug’s performance in real time. Bug Arena is a free, web-based activity, easy to run in any classroom for grades 3–8. 

Slither Slam from Visual Studio Code for Education 

Slither Slam from Visual Studio (VS) Code for Education is a free, game-based lesson designed for high school learners (grades 9–12). The activity gets students coding with AI prompts by using natural language to generate code for a classic Snake game and then competing against other AI snakes in the arena. This hands-on, engaging format helps students learn AI-assisted code generation, experiment with prompts to see how AI interprets instructions, and build confidence in both coding and understanding AI’s role in development.

Download and get setup with the Slither Slam resources available for educators.

Sharpen your AI skills year-round 

Supporting Hour of AI is just one way Microsoft is working to expand access to AI skills for students and educators worldwide. Through Microsoft Elevate, we offer year-round programs and resources designed to help teachers in every country and classroom confidently bring AI into their teaching—empowering educators to focus on what matters most: student success. Learn more about programs for educators and schools and get started with these resources:

• Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert (MIEE) Program: Join a global community of educators leading innovation with Microsoft tools and AI integration.
• Microsoft Showcase Schools Program: Collaborate with pioneering schools worldwide to transform learning.
• AI Skills for Educators: Access free resources and training to build AI literacy and integrate AI responsibly into your teaching.

Let’s make AI learning accessible, exciting, and empowering—one hour at a time. Join us for Hour of AI and CS Education Week 2025 and help shape the future of learning.

¹ CSforALL: What’s the goal of the Hour of AI?

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This year, Minecraft Education and Code.org are teaming up to make AI learning an epic adventure. Our long-standing partner, Code.org, has evolved Hour of Code into Hour of AI, a global initiative that brings the excitement of coding and AI to millions of students. And now, with our new Hour of AI world, The First Night, students get to experience the thrill of Minecraft while discovering how AI and AI agents work and how to use them responsibly.

Survive the night—with an agent by your side!

Imagine stepping into Minecraft, facing the classic challenge: gathering resources, building shelter, and keeping the zombies at bay. But this time, you’re not alone!

Students will team up with the beloved, blocky Minecraft Agent who needs their help to learn, adapt, and survive. Through MakeCode and Python programming, they will teach the Agent to recognize patterns, classify resources, and coordinate mini-agent helpers, just like a real AI system.

Game-based learning for AI literacy

Research shows that 72% of students want guidance from trusted adults about AI. Hour of AI makes this easy, no deep technical expertise required. Students get to play, experiment, and learn by doing. In this tutorial, every puzzle is a chance to experiment, play, and see your Agent grow smarter with your guidance.

The Agent becomes a “thinking partner,” amplifying human creativity and problem-solving, while the player gets to be the teacher, showing your Agent how to spot acacia wood, build tools, and even fix mistakes (like forgetting to add a door before the zombies arrive!). The game is packed with “aha!” moments, like debugging your Agent’s code or watching mini-agents mine and build alongside you.

The magic of Hour of AI is in the role reversal: students become the experts, guiding their Agent through five essential survival tasks. The Agent starts out clueless, but with your help, learns to tackle challenges and avoid epic fails. It’s hands-on, creative, and sometimes hilarious – especially when your Agent builds a shelter with no doors and you have to save the day!

How to join the adventure

Play the tutorial

• If you already have Minecraft Education, open the app and click ‘Hour of AI’ on the home screen to choose a tutorial.
• If you don’t have a license, download the app and click ‘Try a demo’. Hour of AI is available as a free demo in Minecraft Education, which means it’s accessible to anyone, no license required.

Download educator materials

• Visit our Hour of AI webpage to get free supporting materials including a Facilitator Guide and lesson plan.
• When students complete the Hour of AI, they will receive a certificate of completion. Download this certificate to print, as well as a fun badge.

Register for free community events

• Join one of our Hour of AI Classroom Play-Alongs, where you can join classrooms around the world for a guest-taught Hour of AI live lesson streamed Microsoft Teams.

Mark your calendar for December 8, when millions of students and teachers around the world will celebrate Computer Science Education Week with tons of fun Hour of AI events.

Ready to play, learn, and shape the future?

Hour of AI: The First Night is just the beginning. For educators and students who want more, Minecraft Education’s AI Foundations program offers extended curriculum, teacher training, and an animated series for learners of all ages.

Join the global Hour of AI movement and show students that the AI-powered future is full of creative problem solving, collaboration, and fun. As the sun sets on your first night, the adventure and the learning have only just begun!

The post Solve coding puzzles to survive the night in the new Minecraft Hour of AI appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

We believe the future starts here at home. That’s why we’re investing in the people who live, learn, and teach in our own backyard. Our goal? To ensure the state of Washington benefits first from the innovations we are creating for the world. We want to ensure that Washington not only remains a national hub for technology and entrepreneurship but that our students are among the most prepared for the jobs of tomorrow.

Today, we see a troubling trend—one that could undermine our shared future. Analysis of Microsoft data by our AI for Good Lab shows a marked disparity in AI use across the state. In counties with the highest use of AI along the Puget Sound—Snohomish, King, Pierce, and Whatcom—AI is already used by more than 30 percent of the population. Snohomish leads with 35 percent. Yet in seven rural counties in eastern Washington, usage drops well below 10 percent. Ferry County ranks lowest, with just 2.5 percent of residents using AI—a tenfold gap compared to the state’s most connected regions. Download the full dataset.

As we’ve learned firsthand from working for a decade on broadband accessibility across the state, this isn’t just a technology gap; it’s an opportunity gap. Because in tomorrow’s economy, those who understand and use AI will do better than those who don’t.

Microsoft Elevate Washington: A homegrown commitment

That’s why today we’re launching Microsoft Elevate Washington—an important new initiative to help ensure that everyone across our home state can access AI technology and develop the skills to use it. We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we’ve shaped this effort in close collaboration with a broad coalition of voices from across Washington. Most importantly, we’re committed to working shoulder to shoulder with educators—because they are the driving force behind our shared vision for the future.

This new initiative will bring the world’s most advanced AI tools and training free of charge to every high school and community college student across our state, regardless of zip code. This is more than a program—it’s a promise to Washington’s 100,000 educators and 500,000 high school and community college students. A promise that they will be equipped with the very best technology to navigate—and help shape—this new era.

We’re backing this commitment with grants to accelerate adoption and innovation, support for early adopters of AI-powered teaching and learning, and professional development for educators to better engage students and lighten administrative workloads.

When we invest in our educators, we invest in our students. And when we invest in our students, we invest in the future of Washington.

What we’re offering

For school districts and community colleges

Starting January 2026, we’ll provide Copilot Studio to Washington State’s 295 school districts and 34 community colleges free of charge for up to three years.  This powerful tool allows administrators and staff to build custom AI agents—no coding required—to help transform how these districts and community colleges support learning.

With Copilot Studio, these institutions can use AI and AI agents to help streamline scheduling, enhance data analysis, support school year planning, and help teachers plan for classes—enabling faster, more informed decision-making and freeing up time for more meaningful student engagement.

In addition, Microsoft will provide up to 10 school districts and 10 community colleges with $25,000 in dedicated technology consulting to help them build and deploy AI agents tailored to their teaching and workplace needs. The company will then help these institutions spread what they learn to administrators and educators across the state to jump-start AI expertise more broadly.

For high school students (grades 9–12)

Beginning July 2026, high school students across Washington will receive free access for up to three years to Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 desktop apps, Learning Accelerators, and Teams for Education. This will also include AI-powered learning experiences grounded in learning science to help foster critical thinking and engagement and will launch in the coming weeks and months.

These tools will help students build fluency in AI, boost productivity, develop digital literacy, and improve learning outcomes. They will help improve reading fluency and comprehension and build critical information literacy. By tailoring feedback and guidance to each student’s pace and needs, these new AI tools will support academic growth and critical thinking.

For community college students

Microsoft will offer all community college students in Washington State 12 months of free usage of Microsoft 365 Personal, including Copilot integration across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. This offer, available through November 15, 2025, will help students manage coursework, collaborate on projects, and build digital skills with AI-powered tools. This subscription includes one terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage, Microsoft Defender for security, and creative tools, including Designer for image editing.

For educators

Microsoft will support state education agencies to help provide high-quality AI professional development to educators and administrative staff. Working with Washington’s Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI), the Washington Education Association (WEA), and the National Education Association (NEA), Microsoft will support AI training programs focused on streamlining administrative tasks and enhancing operational efficiencies.

This initiative will make AI professional development available to all 295 public school districts and accessible to all certificated teachers, instructional assistants, and administrative staff. The company will also support the state agencies’ AI Innovation Summit—an in-person and virtual conference hosted by all K–12 agencies—we will help bring together over 1,000 educators, board members, and administrators to explore AI adoption, implementation, and best practices in education.

Additionally, we will deliver Generative AI for Educators training and role-based generative AI training across all 34 community and technical colleges. And we will collaborate with the NEA and WEA to strengthen AI readiness among their local affiliates.

We will back these efforts with cash grants to support Washington’s K-12 schools and community colleges to help educators integrate AI into their preparation and instruction, ultimately enhancing teaching, learning, and efficiency.

Building a movement

All this builds on our global July announcement of Microsoft Elevate, a new business unit focused on supporting schools, colleges, and nonprofits with technology, training, and funding. Through this new initiative, we’ll contribute more than $4 billion over the next 5 years in cash and cloud services to help these institutions around the world advance their missions.

We know that we can’t do this alone and that our success will require a statewide movement. That’s why we’re leaning in with state agencies, school districts, and community organizations to help us reach every corner of our state.

We are collaborating with nonprofits like Code.org to bring the Hour of AI to students across the state, including rallying our 50,000-plus employees in Washington to lead a workshop that showcases real-world applications and student-led innovation.

We’re supporting youth development workers, college and career navigators, and community leaders with tailored generative AI training to help them serve their communities more effectively.

And finally, we’ll launch an open call for innovators to partner with education institutions and build scalable, AI-enabled solutions that improve learning and career readiness. If you’re passionate about education and technology, we want to hear from you.

An enduring commitment to Washington’s future

Microsoft was born in Washington, and our roots run deep. As we look to the future, our commitment is unwavering: to empower every student, every educator, and every community in our state to thrive in the era of AI. Together, we can build a future where Washington leads the nation—and where every young person growing up in our backyard has the chance to achieve more.

We’re inviting every Washingtonian to join us in this journey—because the future of AI isn’t about machines. It’s about people. It’s about creativity. It’s about solving real problems and expanding opportunities broadly.

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While over 80% of respondents in the 2025 AI in Education Report have already used AI for school, we believe there are significant opportunities to design AI that can better serve each of their needs and broaden access to the latest innovation.¹

That’s why today, we’re announcing AI-powered experiences built for teaching and learning at no additional cost, new integrations in Microsoft 365 apps and Learning Management Systems, and an academic offering for Microsoft 365 Copilot.

Introducing AI-powered teaching and learning

Empowering educators with Teach

We’re introducing Teach to help streamline class prep and adapt AI to support educators’ teaching expertise with intuitive and customizable features. In one place, educators can easily access AI-powered teaching tools to create lesson plans, draft materials like quizzes and rubrics, and quickly make modifications to language, reading level, length, difficulty, alignment to relevant standards, and more.

Teach is rolling out in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app starting today at no additional cost for education customers with more functionality, including Learning Management System (LMS) integration, coming soon. Many of these features are also available in the daily flow of educators using apps like Microsoft Teams and OneNote.

Supporting students with Study and Learn Agent

By creating AI experiences grounded in learning science, we can more effectively support the process of learning for students and shift focus on the use of AI for quick content generation to nurturing the growth of skills over time. We’re bringing Study and Learn, an advanced agent, to students to provide adaptive experiences and help foster critical and reflective thinking. They can choose to work on their understanding, practice with exercises, study a specific topic, or simply chat and select from engaging built-in activities like flashcards, matching, fill-in-the-blank, or quizzes as they go. Study and Learn is coming to preview in November 2025 and will be available at no additional cost.

Learn more about all the latest updates in today’s Education Tech Community blog post.

New integrations in everyday apps for education

Millions of educators, staff, and students ages 13 and older are using Copilot Chat to personalize learning, enhance instruction, and reimagine administrative tasks. In Fulton County Schools, it’s helping to increase student agency and engagement and at Babson College it’s accelerating time to market for the next generation of entrepreneurs. Copilot Chat is included at no additional cost with Microsoft 365 and now available in apps like Outlook and PowerPoint to provide secure AI chat powered by GPT-5 with enterprise data protection and IT controls. Plus, coming to preview in December 2025, it will be accessible in LMSs such as Canvas, Schoology, Brightspace, Blackboard, and Moodle™ through the Microsoft 365 LTI.

Broadening access to the latest AI innovation

We’re excited to introduce an academic offering for Microsoft 365 Copilot in education at $18 (USD) per user per month for educators, staff, and students ages 13 and older starting in December 2025.² Deeply integrated into apps used every day, Microsoft 365 Copilot combines the power of AI with your data—documents, presentations, emails, meetings, chats, institutional knowledge, and more—plus the web to deliver relevant responses with sources. It also delivers cutting-edge capabilities like comprehensive agent access including Researcher and Analyst, Copilot Tuning for increased customization, and the Copilot Control System to protect institutional data.

Microsoft 365 Copilot has helped save significant time for our educators and staff, empowering them to focus on the reason they came into education—supporting student learning and personalizing education in ways that weren’t possible before.

Leigh Williams, CIO, Brisbane Catholic Education

At Brisbane Catholic Education, participating educators saved over 9 hours per week in administrative and planning tasks, allowing more time for enhancing student experiences and wellbeing. Eighty-four percent of users—including students—at the University of South Carolina reported saving between one and five hours per week, with 8 in 10 users reporting satisfaction with Copilot. Professors reported time savings and improved quality in academic output, allowing more focus on higher-value research and mentoring. Meanwhile, administrators reported reduced meeting prep time and improved decision-making through faster data synthesis, and communication teams increased their creative output without sacrificing quality.

Transforming education experiences with agents

Institutions are deepening the use of AI to advance their mission and prepare students for the future while also beginning to demonstrate the potential of agents to transform experiences across teaching, learning, research, and operations. Whether you’re looking to use pre-built solutions, quickly build your own, or develop advanced systems, we’ve made it easy to take the power of generative AI a step further with agents. Simply use natural language to create instructions and select relevant content to begin transforming experiences and processes with customized agents.

The University of South Florida is driving a comprehensive approach across the spectrum of agents. The IT team has built agents to enhance campus experiences and support for topics like travel policy, the IT help desk, or events such as student commencement. They’ve worked with the library, athletics, and are partnering with the College of Medicine to create custom solutions including an advanced accreditation system and interactive student handbooks.

Student Ambassadors built agents for several departments resulting in decreased manual reporting time, expedited inventory analysis, and improved content creation workflows. Their Microsoft 365 Copilot users are also already seeing efficiency gains with Researcher and Analyst to support tasks like annual report development, procurement, billing evaluation, and budget reviews. Next, they’re piloting the use of autonomous agents to drive IT process automation and an agent-driven contact center.

At Broward County Public Schools, academic leaders are creating innovative agents such as an interactive quiz engine to enhance student engagement, a resume and job description analyzer to support career readiness initiatives. They’re also exploring agent use cases like professional development planning, recruitment assistance, newsletter and report drafting, and more. To streamline operations, Broward is building agents to facilitate contract management and improve access to support information for users of their Student Information System.

More ways to get started on your AI journey

No matter where you are on your AI journey, we offer a place to get started, including many options at no additional cost. Educators can take advantage of our Learning Accelerators like Reading Coach to receive immediate feedback and insights powered by AI, Minecraft AI Foundations to build AI literacy in engaging ways with students and families, as well as Khanmigo for Teachers for a suite of standards-aligned tools with no prompting required and Khanmigo Writing Coach for students. GitHub Copilot Pro is available to educators and students for free plus access to dozens of learning resources in the Student Developer Pack.

Many students are not only starting to use AI tools in the classroom, but also at home and for purposes outside of schoolwork like trip or meal planning, shopping, and side hustles. Microsoft 365 Personal is available for use of productivity apps and credits for new AI features. Eligible college students can receive a 50% discount on Microsoft 365 Personal and can sign up for a free 12-month trial for a limited time.

¹ Survey Data – 2025 AI in Education Report

² All prices are in US dollars and accurate as of December 2025. Regional prices will vary based on foreign exchange rates at the moment of ordering SKUs.

The post Designing Microsoft 365 Copilot to empower educators, students, and staff appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Microsoft is proud to welcome more than 43,000 Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Experts and 900 Microsoft Showcase Schools into our global education empowerment community for the 2025–2026 academic year. The MIE Experts 2025-2026 cohort and this year’s Showcase Schools distinguish themselves through their visionary leadership, embracing AI transformation and fostering AI literacy to reimagine learning.

Across education institutions, educators, and students, AI use is surging. MIE Experts and Showcase Schools play a crucial role in their communities by integrating Microsoft technologies and championing learning. With 70% of skills used in most jobs expected to change by 2030, these educators and schools are at the forefront of preparing students for the future.¹ We’re excited to work alongside these changemakers, and we anticipate a year filled with meaningful connections, shared learning experiences, and transformative impact.

Championed by Microsoft Elevate

The MIE Expert and Showcase School programs are set to benefit from a deeper commitment to people-centered AI innovation through Microsoft Elevate, Microsoft’s initiative to empower educators, nonprofit organizations, and workforce partners with advanced AI capabilities. By connecting the MIE Expert and Showcase School programs to Microsoft Elevate, we are renewing our focus on educators to ensure that individuals remain at the center of progress, while fostering community engagement and driving meaningful impact across global learning communities.

During the launch of Microsoft Elevate, MIE Expert Eleanor Jenkins expressed her enthusiasm about the transformative potential of AI in education:

The future of what students are going to be working in, the careers they’re going to have, don’t exist at the moment…we have to define the way the world works and the way the world is going to change.

Eleanor Jenkins, Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert

The benefits of joining these communities are substantial. Educators gain access to exclusive resources, leadership opportunities, and recognition for their impact. Through Microsoft Elevate, participants also receive support in using AI to enhance teaching and learning. Whether through coaching, presenting at conferences, or collaborating across the world, these educators are empowered to lead change, inspire others, and shape the future of education. Together, they form a vibrant community committed to equity, innovation, and lifelong learning.

MIE Experts 2025-2026

MIE Experts are visionary educators who utilize Microsoft tools to create inclusive, student-centered learning environments. Participation begins with completing professional learning paths which equip educators with future-ready skills and tools to personalize learning. They engage actively in Microsoft technology integration, build connections through both global and local networks, and inspire innovation within their schools and communities. We honor their passion for growth and proudly welcome the 2025–2026 MIE Experts!

MIE Fellows 2025-2026

MIE Fellows are distinguished leaders within the MIE Expert and Showcase School community, personally nominated by Microsoft team members. They have demonstrated excellence in the MIE Expert or Showcase School program—or both—through coaching, mentoring, sharing their knowledge broadly at conferences, and providing rich professional learning to other educators. As part of this program, MIE Fellows take on leadership roles within their region and work closely with the Microsoft Elevate team to offer support and growth within the MIE Expert community.

Microsoft Showcase Schools 2025-2026

Microsoft Showcase Schools serve as trailblazers in educational transformation, leading the way in the integration of AI and future-ready skills. These schools use Microsoft technology and AI solutions to boost student engagement, foster collaboration, and prepare learners for the evolving demands of the modern world. As models of innovation and leadership, they demonstrate how purposeful use of technology can empower students to thrive in an increasingly digital society.

How to join: Become an MIE Expert

If you’re interested in joining this vibrant community, get started today:

• Learn more about the MIE Expert community.
• Complete the AI for Educators learning path through Microsoft Learn.
• Complete the Reading Coach learning module through Microsoft Learn.

How to join: Microsoft Showcase School Program

If you’re a school leader ready to lead transformation, here’s how to get started:

• Learn more about the Microsoft Showcase School program.
• Review the Microsoft Showcase School criteria.
• View the Microsoft Showcase School rubric.

All schools begin on the Incubator path and can apply to become a Showcase School once they meet the criteria.

Elevate education together

As we welcome the 2025–2026 cohort of MIE Experts, MIE Fellows, and Showcase Schools, we celebrate a shared vision: to elevate education through innovation, collaboration, and purpose. These educators and institutions are not just adopting technology—they’re leading transformation, empowering students, and redefining what’s possible in learning. Together, we’re building a global community that uplifts every learner and educator, driving forward a future where education is inclusive, impactful, and inspired.

Stay connected with us

• Join the Microsoft Learn Educator Center.
• Follow Microsoft AI Skills on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
• Follow Microsoft Education on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, X, Pinterest, and YouTube.
• Bookmark the Microsoft Education Blog and visit frequently for news that inspires and resources that support learning.

¹ AI and the Global Economy: Unlocking Growth and Reshaping Work, LinkedIn, 2025

The post Celebrating the 2025–2026 MIE Experts and Showcase Schools appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella joined the meeting and outlined our commitments to empower teachers and students, build AI skills, and create economic opportunity in a video.

We believe delivering on the real promise of AI depends on how broadly it’s diffused. This requires investment and innovation in AI education, training, and job certification. We applaud the leadership of the First Lady and the White House’s AI Education Task Force. They’re helping to forge a national AI education strategy and partnering with companies across the tech sector and business community.

As we think about this national priority, we think it comes down to three things.

First, empowering teachers and students with the latest AI tools. 

Second, building AI skills. With AI moving faster than any technology in history, the only way to keep up is learning by doing and getting recognized for it.  

Third, creating economic opportunity by connecting these new skills to jobs. Every American should be able to showcase their AI skills and credentials to find new jobs and grow their career. 

Here’s what’s coming from Microsoft: 

• Free Copilot in Microsoft 365 for college students. Today, we are making Microsoft 365 Personal free for 12 months to every college student in the United States. This includes all students attending community colleges. Microsoft 365 Personal includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook with Copilot, our AI assistant, built right in. College students can sign up to access this free offer beginning today through October 31, 2025 (valid university email address required). Learn more.
• Expanded access to our AI tools in schools. Microsoft Elevate will soon build on today’s announcement with expanded access to Copilot to students and teachers in schools, keeping an eye on providing the right tools and education in a safe and age-appropriate manner.
• $1.25 million in educator grants. To celebrate and elevate outstanding teachers, Microsoft Elevate is funding $1.25 million in prizes through the Presidential AI Challenge—recognizing top educators in every state who are leading the way in AI-powered learning. 
• Free LinkedIn Learning AI courses for students and teachers. We’re unlocking free access to LinkedIn Learning courses for teachers and students that guide learners from foundational AI concepts to advanced skills—culminating in LinkedIn certifications that can be added to profiles to boost resumes and open doors to future careers.
• AI training for job seekers and certifications for community colleges. Through new and expanded partnerships with the American Association of Community Colleges and the National Applied AI Consortium, Microsoft Elevate will sponsor no-cost AI training and certifications for faculty and staff, who serve more than 10 million students nationwide, and is providing grants to more than 30 Community Colleges across 28 states to create a community of practice AI peer learning program. Faculty and staff can sign up for training at NAAIC.
• Free LinkedIn Learning AI courses for job seekers. With 70% of AI-related skills expected to shift by 2030, Microsoft will also launch almost 100 AI courses in 15 new LinkedIn Learning paths and host a nationwide AI Learning Challenge to help job seekers build in-demand skills and address the critical skills gap facing today’s workforce. Starting September 29, LinkedIn Learning will host an AI Learning Challenge offering 5 days of intensive, free AI education featuring expert instructors and a list of top AI voices to follow to continue learning every day.

Together, these initiatives represent a powerful investment in America’s future—ensuring that students, teachers, and job seekers across the country have the tools to thrive in the age of AI. 

The post New White House commitments empower teachers, students, and job seekers through AI skilling and learning appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

These new features in Reading Coach help make it easier for educators to build reading skills to support each student’s needs with:

• Guided practice features – Suggest reading practices tailored to individual students.
• Time goals – Set specific time goals for students, fostering disciplined practice.
• Progress tracking – Monitor student achievements and adjust learning strategies based on individual needs.

Take the next step in improving student reading skills with guided practice in Reading Coach. Start exploring today and see the difference it can make in your classroom.

Guided practice features in Reading Coach

As an educator, you know that every minute counts. Whether you’re supporting a student who needs extra practice or attempting to differentiate reading levels across your class, introducing tools that adapt to your needs is essential. With Reading Coach, educators can create reading practice sessions for students to join using a unique code—making it easy to launch targeted, independent reading practice sessions.

Used by half a million learners in over 190 countries worldwide, Reading Coach can help make reading more fun, engaging, and accessible with built-in tools like Immersive Reader to provide an opportunity for students to boost their potential and confidence. If you’re new to Reading Coach, check out the educator’s guide to Reading Coach to learn how to get started.

Toggle between teacher and student modes

One of the first things you’ll notice when you sign into Reading Coach with a school account is a toggle that lets you switch between Teacher and Student modes. This small but powerful feature gives you the ability to preview exactly what your students will encounter—before they ever log in.

For example, if you’re assigning a custom passage for independent practice, you can toggle into Student mode to experience Reading Coach firsthand. This helps you catch any confusing instructions or formatting issues ahead of time. It’s also a great way to model the student experience during whole-class instruction or small group demonstrations.

For a deeper dive into Reading Coach capabilities and features, take the Reading Coach learning module on Microsoft Learn.

Create practice session and share with students

With Reading Coach, you can deliver guided reading support quickly—without increasing your preparation time. For example, imagine you’re preparing a small group intervention for students who need extra support with multisyllabic words. In just a few steps, you can paste in a custom passage from your curriculum, set a 10-minute goal, and send out a join code. Students can complete the practice independently while you work one-on-one with other students—no additional setup required.

You can set a time goal for independent, student-led reading, share a custom passage, or select an existing one from the built-in ReadWorks library. The experience is flexible and inclusive, helping each student build confidence with targeted support. Students join with a simple link or code, making it easy to get started.

Get started by creating a custom practice assignment:

1. Select the Teacher role and then New.
2. Add a Title and a Due date.
3. Choose a Practice type—either Open reading, where any reading in Reading Coach counts, or Single passage, where you attach or select a passage from ReadWorks.
4. Share with students using a join code or link.

Track student progress with Reading Coach

Reading Coach lets you monitor progress toward a time goal or the completion status of a shared passage—offering you real-time visibility into your students’ reading fluency development. This level of insight is especially helpful during parent-teacher conferences or individualized education program (IEP) meetings. In just a few steps, you can pull up a student’s reading trends and show how their fluency has improved over time—with real data, not just observations.

You’ll see at-a-glance data such as:

• Progress toward a time goal in open reading
• Percentage completed in single passage reading
• Average correct words per minute (WPM)
• Average reading accuracy

Follow these simple steps to start exploring student reading fluency progress:

1. Select a practice on the Teacher home page to open Practice view.
2. Choose a student’s profile to access Learner view.
3. Review their historical data across all practices you’ve shared with that student.

This data helps you identify patterns, celebrate growth, and pinpoint where personalized support may be needed. And because all reading activities—whether guided or self-directed practice—count toward the “My progress” tab, you get a holistic view of each student’s journey.

Reading Coach is designed to make reading personal, inclusive, and fun—helping students build confidence and a lifelong love of learning. Start your journey with Reading Coach today and empower your students to achieve their reading goals.

The post Personalized reading practice made easy with AI-powered Reading Coach appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

That’s why today we’re announcing Microsoft Elevate and the AI Economy Institute—to ensure that as AI transforms our world, we’re putting people first by equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and tools to thrive with AI.

Microsoft Elevate brings into one organization our technology support, donations, and sales for schools, community colleges, and nonprofit organizations. It is the successor to and expands upon the longstanding work of Microsoft Philanthropies and the Tech for Social Impact team that supports nonprofits.

More broadly, this represents our next chapter for corporate philanthropy and our non-commercial business model. As we have with Tech for Social Impact, we will run this new business with commitments to reinvest a share of our profits into nonprofit programs. We are announcing today that over the next five years, we will donate on a global scale more than $4 billion in cash and AI and cloud technology to K-12 schools, community and technical colleges, and nonprofits to help advance their missions.

Microsoft Elevate will also pursue the next phase of our global skilling programs and initiatives. Through the Microsoft Elevate Academy, it will help bring AI education and skills to people around the world. In the next two years, the Microsoft Elevate Academy will help 20 million people earn an in-demand AI skilling credential ranging from foundational fluency to advanced technical training. Working in close coordination with other groups across Microsoft, including LinkedIn and GitHub, Microsoft Elevate will deliver AI education and skilling at scale. And it will work as an advocate for public policies around the world to advance AI education and training for others.

Microsoft will partner with governments on a national, state, and local basis, as we have with the largest state in Germany, North Rhine-Westphalia. It will focus on advancing AI education and training with schools, community colleges, and nonprofits. It will launch new and innovative initiatives, including the support we’re announcing today for a new “Hour of AI” with Code.org. It will build on our existing partnerships with leading labor organizations, as we announced yesterday with the American Federation of Teachers. And we will pursue many more partnerships to come. Put together, these efforts represent a bold step to create the skilling infrastructure the world will need to put AI to work.

A moment to reflect

Today’s tech sector is in an AI race—with some aiming to be the first to reach artificial general intelligence or even superintelligence. But what do we really hope to create at the supposed finish line?

The best time to ask hard questions about AI’s future is now—before it becomes even more powerful and pervasive. History shows that technology can empower creativity, expand knowledge, and connect people. But it can also deepen divides. Nearly 150 years after Thomas Edison lit his first light bulb, hundreds of millions still lack electricity. And in just 15 years, social media has gone from what people saw as a promising tool to spread democracy to a weapon of disinformation.

As we look ahead, we must ask ourselves: Are we building machines to replace people, or to help people thrive? Are we trying to create AI that will outsmart humanity—or elevate it?

At Microsoft, we’re putting a clear stake in the ground: we believe in advancing AI by putting people first.

Elevating the humanity of work

This initiative is part of a broader commitment to help people shape the future of work, not just react to it.

Work has always been more than a paycheck. It’s how people contribute, grow, and find meaning in their lives. It’s a source of identity, purpose, and dignity. This isn’t a new idea. Two thousand years ago, Aristotle called it eudaimonia—the ability to flourish through purposeful activity. That idea still resonates today, especially as AI begins to reshape the nature of work itself.

AI is a powerful tool that can help us learn and be more productive. But as with any tool, it needs to be used in the right ways and with a broad perspective. This is one of the lessons from the use of social media. We’ve probably all experienced someone connecting on their phone with a friend far away while ignoring a family member sitting in the same room. We need to use AI to think more, not less. And this is a function not only of technology but culture and habits. It will require thoughtful conversations in homes, schools, and in the workplace about how we make the best use of AI.

Ultimately, the conversation about AI and jobs must begin with people—not just productivity. Machines can process data, but only humans can exercise judgment. Machines can mimic language, but only humans can offer empathy. Machines can optimize, but only humans can care. The goal isn’t to build machines that replace us—it’s to build machines that help us do more and do it better.

One key to success will be partnerships, so a broad array of stakeholders can have input into where AI is going. That means working with governments, educators, labor unions, employers, and community leaders to ensure AI reflects human values and serves human needs.

This is why we have been deepening our partnerships with labor organizations like the AFL-CIO and, as announced yesterday, with the American Federation of Teachers, or AFT, to deliver AI training to union members, apprenticeship instructors, and educators—including a new National Academy for AI Instruction and a summer skilling series across the building trades. We’re also working with policymakers to encourage public policies that support lifelong learning, workforce readiness, and equitable access to AI education.

A new corporate think tank: Microsoft’s AI Economy Institute

It’s important to acknowledge that we don’t have all the answers to the new questions that AI will pose for societies around the world. No one does.

To support our work with deeper research and policy insight, Microsoft Elevate will work in close coordination with the Microsoft AI Economy Institute. We started work this past January on what is a new kind of corporate think tank—one designed to bridge the gap between technological innovation and societal impact.

Housed within the AI for Good Lab and building on the best traditions of Microsoft Research, the Institute sponsors and convenes researchers to explore how AI is reshaping work, education, and productivity. It’s focused on turning those insights into real-world solutions that inform Microsoft’s strategy and public policy engagement.

The Institute supports academic research that explores the transformative potential of AI around the world. Current projects, representing academics from universities across the globe, began earlier this year and span from investigating how generative AI can drive transdisciplinary academic innovation to addressing policy gaps in African higher education to evaluating the real-world labor market value of AI skills and micro-credentials. This work underscores the Institute’s commitment to inclusive, evidence-based insights that shape responsible and globally relevant AI futures. With fast publication cycles and a commitment to open collaboration, the Institute ensures that its research reaches not only internal teams but also the public and policymakers around the world.

The Institute’s work will directly inform Microsoft Elevate’s skilling programs and initiatives, helping to create the training programs, partnerships, and policy frameworks needed to prepare people for the AI economy.

Through workshops, convenings, and applied research, the AI Economy Institute is poised to become a leading voice in the global conversation on AI and economic transformation—ensuring that the benefits of AI are broadly shared and that the infrastructure for inclusive growth is built alongside the technology itself.

This is part of an even broader ongoing effort to advance AI as a tool for good around the world. This will include the evolution of our AI for Good Lab, which advances applied research projects to use AI to meet societal needs. It also includes our support for responsible AI with a wide variety of partners, including universities, nonprofits, and the AFL-CIO and its members. It also includes faith-based organizations, including the Vatican and its Rome Call for AI Ethics. And important intergovernmental organizations, including key United Nations agencies.

Building on a 50-year legacy

More than any other tech company, Microsoft’s 50-year history gives us a unique appreciation for what it takes for people and technology to flourish together. Because the PC and our operating systems have always functioned as open platforms, we understand how to support a broad global ecosystem of software developers and innovators. And because Microsoft strived early on to put “a computer on every desk and in every home” when that seemed like an implausible dream, we appreciate what technology success truly requires. It’s based not only on great innovations but also critical work to make these innovations accessible and to equip people with the skills needed to use them in their daily lives.

This is the work ahead—not just building the next generation of AI but building the next generation of opportunity. With Microsoft Elevate, we’re investing in people, institutions, and ideas that will ensure AI serves everyone. Because AI shouldn’t strip away the humanity of work—it should elevate it.

The post Microsoft Elevate: Putting people first appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

We’re inspired by innovative teaching, leading, and learning and excited to share new insights, features for educators and students, and resources to help you get started. Join us in-person at ISTELive 25 and ASCD Annual 25, June 29 – July 2, 2025, in San Antonio, Texas to explore the latest from Microsoft Education with solutions that spark joyful learning and equip educators with AI skills.

Insights from the 2025 AI in Education Report

In times of change and innovation, the need for insights and examples of impact becomes increasingly important. That’s why we’re sharing the 2025 AI in Education Report which highlights key findings across AI usage, concerns, and opportunities alongside learnings and progress from global institutions.

According to the report, AI in education is advancing daily with over 80% of surveyed educators using AI this year, up 21 points from last year as its role expands from just an assistant to a thought partner and force multiplier. At the same time, approximately one in three surveyed United States K-12 educators still lack confidence in using AI effectively and responsibly and more than half of surveyed students report that they have not received AI training.¹

It’s critical to engage with students, educators, and all community stakeholders to address challenges, learn together, and co-develop the path forward. Further, we need to collectively prepare for an AI-powered future and support students in building relevant AI skills as every industry and discipline evolves. Read the report for an overview and explore the detailed survey data for even more insights.

Teachers are saying, ‘I need training, it needs to be high quality, relevant, and job-embedded…’ In reality, people require guidance and that means teachers and administrators going through professional development.

Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer of Code.org and Lead of TeachAI

Enhancing instruction with Microsoft 365 Copilot and Microsoft Learning Zone

Microsoft 365 Copilot delivers the latest AI innovations whether through reasoning agents like Researcher and Analyst, or advanced functionality like Copilot Tuning. Institutions such as Brisbane Catholic Education and Miami Dade College are saving time to reinvest into meaningful work and beginning to explore new capabilities like agents. We’re also collaborating with Learning Management System (LMS) providers like Canvas and Moodle to take the power of agents a step further by supporting integration with Copilot through open-source, customizable samples.

We told our staff: you have permission to try, and permission to fail. That opened the door for teachers to test Microsoft 365 Copilot and Copilot Chat without fear of judgment or wasted time. And guess what? Most of the time, those experiments don’t fail—they spark new ways of thinking.

Shane Tooley, Assistant Principal Curriculum, St. Peter Claver College, Brisbane Catholic Education

We recently introduced the updated Microsoft 365 Copilot app, your hub for the latest functionality and later this year in preview, for AI-powered features for educators. In one place, educators will be able to easily create lesson plans, draft materials like quizzes and rubrics, and quickly make modifications like translation, adjusted reading levels, length, difficulty, alignment to relevant standards, and more.

We’re announcing Microsoft Learning Zone, a free, AI-powered learning app and the first Copilot+ PC experience purpose built for educators to create personalized, adaptive learning activities.² Formerly known as the code name Project Spark, the experience will launch in public preview later this summer on Copilot+ PCs, including Microsoft Surface, and across the Windows ecosystem. It’s powered by new AI innovation, learning science, educator input, and features like lesson creation, customizable tools to meet learning goals, and data-driven insights.

Microsoft Learning Zone is built on collaborations with organizations such as NASA, The Economist Educational Foundation, PBS NewsHour, Figma, and Minecraft Education to bring real-world relevance into the classroom. It also includes integration with Kahoot! to generate interactive games and OpenStax for content from vetted open educational resources.

Using Microsoft Learning Zone in the classroom has been an exciting opportunity to explore innovative ways to engage students. I was impressed by the app’s intuitive layout and how easily I could edit and share content with my class. While still in its early stages, Learning Zone shows great potential for helping teachers create AI-driven educational resources.

Terry Borko, Teacher of Social Studies and Media, Red Deer Lake School

Preparing students for academic and career success

Students at the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and University of South Carolina are already seeing academic and career preparedness gains with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Copilot Notebooks are now included, and we’re looking forward to bringing even more value with a study guide experience, in preview later this year. Study guide creation is designed to help students, or educators, turn scattered materials into an organized study space with engaging learning activities and content like podcasts instantly. It will include flashcards, fill in the blanks, matching exercises, quizzes, and the ability to review progress.

In some job interviews recently, I’ve actually been asked about my experience with AI and if I know how to use it efficiently to help manage workflows. Copilot will really help students stay at the forefront of today’s changing world and make them more marketable.

Emma Ernst, Public Relations Student, University of South Carolina

In May 2025, we announced that teen student availability for Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot would be coming this summer. We’re now sharing that general availability is expected in late July 2025. To prepare, administrators should review guidance to enable Copilot Chat for students and help ensure appropriate access.

Copilot Chat is included with Microsoft 365 at no additional cost and offers secure AI chat powered by GPT-4o with the ability to maintain IT control through enterprise data protection and management. It also includes features like file upload, image generation, Copilot Pages, and agents. We’re optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead to help students increase their agency and build skills to prepare for future success. Read more about use cases, reflections, and advice from our global private preview educators and students in the announcement blog and from Johns Creek High School in the following video.

We’re looking forward to continuing to add education value to Microsoft 365 Copilot and you can review the details, learn about additional updates like the Microsoft 365 Education Learning Tools Interoperability (LTI®), and join our preview communities through the Education Tech Community blog.

As AI usage and innovation increases, so does the need for training resources that empower educators and students alike. We’re continuing to provide opportunities to build essential skills—from immersive activities in Minecraft Education AI Foundations, to equipping preservice educators with ISTE+ASCD, providing hands-on cybersecurity experience for students, and offering GitHub Certifications on Microsoft Learn and Pearson VUE.

We’ll also continue highlighting new evidence of impact such as the recent World Bank study in Nigeria, where a pilot program deployed Copilot, which stated that a “cost-effectiveness analysis revealed substantial learning gains, equating to 1.5 to years of ‘business as usual’ schooling, situating the intervention among some of the most cost-effective programs to improve learning outcomes.”

Additional resources

• Microsoft Education AI Toolkit – Designed to guide school leaders through the process of planning for and integrating AI across the institution.
• 2025 AI in Education Report – Learn more about the latest insights on AI in Education from Microsoft.
• AI strategies from the frontlines of higher education – Read the recent IDC White Paper, sponsored by Microsoft and explore perspectives from academic and IT leaders.
• AI Classroom Toolkit – Try this creative resource to introduce AI to teen students that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information for an immersive and informative learning experience.
• Copilot Chat Adoption Kit – Review the collection of resources for IT, educators, and parents and caregivers to get started with Copilot Chat.
• Minecraft Education AI Foundations – Build AI literacy with Agent and Chicken! AI Foundations offers accessible on-ramps with lessons, immersive content, parent resources, and fun animated videos. Stay tuned for new content coming later this year and join the training cohort to learn more.

Learning from others

• Wichita Public Schools’ AI adoption: How it started, how it’s going
• From skepticism to success: How AI is helping teachers transform classrooms in Peru
• From Chalkboards to Chatbots : Evaluating the Impact of Generative AI on Learning Outcomes in Nigeria
• Crafting skills that matter with Minecraft Education
• Brisbane Catholic Education boosts agency and efficiency with Microsoft 365 Copilot
• Miami Dade College boosts student pass rates by 15% with Microsoft 365 Copilot
• How universities are tapping students and AI to fight the growing threat of cybercrime
• Safeguarding research and innovation: Singapore Management University’s cybersecurity transformation with Microsoft Security solutions
• More Education stories – Discover more examples of how institutions are achieving more with Microsoft Education.

¹ Survey Data – 2025 AI in Education Report

² Microsoft Learning Zone is available with a Copilot+ PC and Microsoft Education license (A1, A3, A5). Initial availability will be English only.

The post Empowering educators with AI innovation and insights appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

We’re optimistic about the opportunities that lie ahead to help students advance their learning and build skills to prepare for success in their future. We’ll share impact and insights from our private preview for students aged 13 and older, product details, and resources to help you get started.

Increasing student agency with Copilot Chat

Throughout our preview, we heard feedback from K-12 institutions that reinforced the importance of providing training and support for educators and students, setting appropriate guidelines, and granting permission to experiment and learn together. They also demonstrated what’s possible when these needs are met. Read on for testimonials from Fulton County Schools and Brisbane Catholic Education, with more insights from our preview and resources later in the blog.

Fulton County Schools first set a foundation with an AI task force, evaluation of over 200 use cases, and alignment on critical goals such as preparing students for their future and giving every student the opportunity to learn in a way that works best for them. After initial training, educators introduced Copilot Chat as a thought partner, provided coaching on topics like prompting, and quickly saw student confidence and curiosity increase. Students used it to ideate, receive immediate feedback without judgment, design multimedia projects, identify and fix code errors, adjust content based on their preferences or pace, and manage their time. Educators are also now able to challenge them more than ever, and students are using Copilot Chat as a force multiplier to bring their ideas and passions to life in ways they couldn’t previously imagine or access.

Hear Johns Creek High School educators and students share their experience with Copilot Chat in their own words in the following video and read the full story.

For Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE), the journey began with a plan to use AI to support their mission to teach, challenge, and transform in a time where there are increasing needs for reduction of administrative workload and evolution of learning models for digital-native students. Educators in an early trial reported saving an average of 9.3 hours per week which contributed to BCE’s interest and confidence to expand access more broadly. Copilot Chat increased student agency, enabled more project-based work, and accelerated a shift they’ve been trying to make for years to help students truly become learners, not just receivers of knowledge. Shane Tooley, Assistant Principal, noted, “The real promise of Copilot Chat isn’t efficiency—it’s cognition. It’s helping us push students beyond knowledge recall into evaluation, synthesis, and justification.”

BCE’s success was built on strong leadership buy-in, aligning AI with broader strategic goals, ongoing measurement, and transparent engagement with opportunities for co-design. It sparked new ways of thinking, a culture of sharing, and thoughtful reflection on the future of education. Learn more about how BCE boosts agency and efficiency with Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot.

My role has shifted from lesson planner to facilitator and mentor. One of the most powerful moments was watching a student ask Copilot Chat to reformat their assignment for dyslexia accessibility. That’s agency. That’s personalization. And it happened without pulling the teacher away from the rest of the class.

Michael Parker, Student Academic Performance and Growth Leader, Trinity College

Get started with Copilot Chat, learn more about Microsoft 365 Copilot

Copilot Chat offers free, secure AI chat powered by GPT-4o and the ability to maintain IT control with enterprise data protection and management and is included with Microsoft 365. It also includes features like file upload, image generation, Copilot Pages, and agents. Learn more by reviewing our Copilot Chat documentation. Copilot Chat will be generally available for students aged 13 and older this summer and administrators will need to take additional steps to grant access based on their institution’s plans and preferences. We recommend administrators review the details on managing Copilot Chat access for students and begin taking the next steps to prepare today.

When you add a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, Copilot Chat becomes more powerful by drawing on the Microsoft Graph for access and understanding of your institutional data, working directly in productivity apps like Outlook, Microsoft Teams, PowerPoint, and Excel, and using advanced measurement and management tools. Microsoft 365 Copilot will be eligible to purchase as an add-on for students aged 13 and older with a Microsoft 365 subscription later in May 2025. Higher education institutions like Indiana University and Miami Dade College are already seeing the impact of Microsoft 365 Copilot to enhance career readiness and increase student engagement.

Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot offer enterprise data protection, the same enterprise terms available in our Microsoft 365 offerings. This means we secure your data, your data is private, your existing Microsoft 365 access controls and policies apply, you’re guarded against AI security and copyright risks, and your data isn’t used to train foundation models. Keeping your institutional data protected is important, and Copilot Chat has built-in safeguards to help ensure it stays that way. Additionally, IT administrators and security professionals can further secure, manage, and analyze the use of Copilot Chat, Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Studio, and agents across their institution with the Copilot Control System.

We look forward to hearing how Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot bring new opportunities to life for your students and institutions. A National 4-H Council survey with young people found that many kids (72%) are seeking support from adults in learning how to use these tools correctly and with confidence. The importance of helping students, educators, and staff adapt to an evolving future will increase and we’ll continue to provide access to the latest technology and relevant resources.

Explore Microsoft Copilot for personal use

Many students are not only starting to use AI tools in the classroom, but also at home and for purposes outside of schoolwork. Microsoft Copilot for individuals is designed to inform, entertain, and inspire and can be accessed for free with a Microsoft personal account. Learn more about default settings and policies to protect those aged 13 and older using Microsoft Copilot. Microsoft 365 Personal or Family is also available for use of productivity apps and credits for new AI features. Eligible students can receive a 50% discount on Microsoft 365 Personal and starting today—students in the United States can sign up for a free three-month trial.

Additional insights from our preview

We want to thank the inspiring educators, students, and institutional leaders who have shared their insights with us and agreed to share them more broadly with you. Participants emphasized the importance of professional development, guidelines, prompting practice, and creating space for transparency and sharing of successes and failures. Educators noticed Copilot Chat helped keep students engaged, immediately receive and act on feedback, improve their research and analysis process, explore counterarguments, and build AI skills that they’ve already begun using to their advantage in the hiring process and even teaching to their employers in part-time jobs. Students also appreciated time savings, providing relief from the stress of deadlines, through the ability to easily brainstorm, troubleshoot issues, ask unlimited questions, and learn at their own pace.

Shane Tooley, Assistant Principal Curriculum at St. Peter Claver College says, “If you’re on the fence about AI, it comes down to this: Your students will surprise you. Given the chance, they’ll use AI ethically and meaningfully. The key is to guide them—not restrict them. Show them what good use looks like.”

Students in Onslow County enjoyed interacting with Copilot Chat to learn more about historical figures, create questions geared towards their specific needs, and receive assistance while away from school. One educator reflected, “Using AI was an eye-opening experience, all I had ever heard or thought about were the negatives, but actually using it allowed me to see many of the wonderful benefits it can bring to our students’ educational experience.”

Jorge Ledezma, Director of Educational Technology, Santa Margarita Catholic High School advises, “It’s crucial to provide AI literacy courses and resources so that students can learn how to use AI responsibly. Furthermore, emphasizing the importance of privacy and security when using AI tools is vital. This not only helps students understand the ethical implications but also ensures they are well-prepared to navigate the digital world safely.”

In Saga Prefecture, ⁠instructors helped students use Copilot Chat to learn how to prompt AI tools, program 3D games in Python, resolve issues on their own, and take initiative to further explore their interests. They used Copilot Chat side by side with Microsoft MakeCode for easy access to troubleshooting support and the ability to ask deeper questions about the task at hand. Educators and leaders emphasized the importance of data protection when providing AI tools to their students.

Dr. Faisal Al Busaidi, Director General of Information Technology, Ministry of Education Oman urges, “Successful adoption of Copilot Chat hinges on the preparedness of educators. I strongly encourage institutions to invest in structured training programs that empower teachers to guide students in using AI tools effectively and thoughtfully.”

Educators at Our Lady of the Southern Cross College, Dalby noted that Copilot Chat fostered further independence and critical thinking for their students as they reflected on how to use AI effectively and responsibly in and outside of school. They also expressed the importance of providing training for students and staff, and that like any new technology in education—the experience will only be as good as the guidelines and learning sequence that accompany it.

Lisvette Flores Quiñones, Department of Education, Puerto Rico shared “Copilot Chat’s use in education and document management has been incredibly beneficial in all teaching and learning processes, I look forward to continuing learning and exploring the potential of AI. I encourage my students to start with Copilot Chat, adjust information to their learning style, and to be specific in their prompts to achieve great results.”

Resources to begin your AI journey

Educators in our preview program consistently highlighted the need for training in AI rollout and we have several resources and tools to help you and your students get started:

• AI Classroom Toolkit – Try this creative resource to introduce AI to teen students that blends engaging narrative stories with instructional information for an immersive and informative learning experience.
• Copilot Chat Adoption Kit – Review the collection of resources for IT, educators, and guardians to get started with Copilot Chat.
• Family Safety Toolkit – Learn more about online safety guidance for all ages, tools and tips, and resources we have developed over time through engagement with young people and digital safety partnerships.
• Minecraft Education AI Foundations – Discover a set of accessible, interactive materials for building AI literacy such as curriculum, short videos, Minecraft lessons, and more.
• Additional free AI tools – Explore the AI-enhanced Learning Accelerators to help students build foundational skills, GitHub Copilot to empower the next generation of developers, and Khan Academy Writing Coach.
• FarmBeats for Students program expansion – Access a free, comprehensive course providing training on precision agriculture, data science, and AI designed for classrooms of all kinds.

Discover even more resources for educators, leaders, and administrators:

• Microsoft Education AI Toolkit – Designed to guide school leaders through the process of planning for and integrating AI across the institution.
• AI for Educators – Start the learning path to explore the potential of AI in education, enhance teaching and learning with Copilot Chat.
• Agent Success Kit – Use our kit to prepare your tenant for AI agents and to enable creation and usage of agents.
• Microsoft 365 Copilot Scenario Library – Get inspired with guidance by department such as IT, HR, legal, communications, operations, and more.
• AI in Education Report – Learn more about the latest insights on AI in Education from Microsoft and stay tuned for updates in June 2025.
• WorkLab – Explore essential insights on AI and the Future of Work.
• AI Guidance for Schools Toolkit from TeachAI – Designed to help education authorities, school leaders, and teachers create thoughtful guidance. A draft AI literacy framework will also be available later in late May 2025.

The post Empowering teen students to achieve more with Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.

Join the Microsoft Skills for Social Impact team for informational office hours to start your journey as an MIE Expert or Showcase School. They’ll share more information about each program, and you’ll learn about new opportunities and resources available for educators and schools. These sessions are open to every educator and school leader: Invite your colleagues and register now!

Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert program

MIE Experts share a common vision: They inspire students with creative thinking and collaboration, using Microsoft technology across their curriculum and in their classrooms. If this describes your experience, we’re looking for visionaries like you! As a member of the MIE Expert global community of 30,000 educators, you’ll connect with colleagues around the world to share insights, learn from each other, and shape the future of education.

How to become an MIE Expert

1. Join Microsoft Learn: Start by creating your profile on Microsoft Learn to track your achievements.
2. Complete key learning paths on Microsoft Learn:
   • Microsoft Educator academy
   • AI for educators
   • Build reading fluency with Reading Coach (featuring new features for educators)
   • Build cybersecurity resilience in K-12 classrooms
3. Review the nomination questions: View helpful guidance and access the list of nomination questions (automatic download).
4. Nominate yourself: By July 31, 2025, submit your self-nomination, showcasing your innovative use of Microsoft tools as an educator. Note that only nominations submitted during the nomination period will be considered.

Microsoft Showcase Schools program

If your school is a center of innovative teaching and learning, becoming a Microsoft Showcase School can help you achieve even more. Showcase Schools are models of education innovation that use technology to create learning experiences, building essential skills for the future.

How to become a Showcase School

1. Familiarize yourself with the Showcase School criteria: Review the Showcase School criteria to understand the program’s principles.
2. Assess your school: Use the Showcase School rubric to evaluate your school’s current standing and areas for growth.
3. Prepare your evidence PowerPoint: Collate evidence of your use of Microsoft tools to enhance teaching and learning.
4. Nominate your school: Fill out the self-nomination form by July 31, 2025, demonstrating how your school has integrated technology to enhance education. Note that only nominations submitted during the nomination period will be considered.

Embrace the future of education

Recognition matters—but becoming a Showcase School or MIE Expert goes beyond recognition. You’ll become part of a global movement that redefines education through technology. This is your opportunity to shape education and to prepare students for a world where digital literacy is not just valued—it’s essential.

Microsoft Education equips educators and institutions with the tools to foster innovation, productivity, and equitable learning opportunities. By empowering students and educators to achieve their potential, Microsoft helps build a future where inclusive, effective education is accessible to all. We’re calling for educators and institutions who dare to dream big. Join the community of innovators who are creating the future of education.

Connect with Microsoft

Stay up to date on the latest news and resources from Microsoft Education and Microsoft Skills for Social Impact to support teaching and learning around the world.

• Join the Microsoft Learn Educator Center.
• Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
• Follow us on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.
• Bookmark the Microsoft Education Blog and visit frequently for news that inspires and supports learning.

From simplifying operations to fostering meaningful engagement and driving innovation, Microsoft provides education institutions with tools and resources to excel in a competitive, digital-first world. Learn how you can empower your entire community—students, educators, and staff—to achieve better outcomes today and prepare for the opportunities of tomorrow.

The post Educators of the future: Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts and Showcase Schools appeared first on Microsoft Education Blog.