Florida Department of Education and FAU launch $5.7 million initiative to improve literacy and prepare teachers for artificial intelligence
Tallahassee, Florida – The Florida Department of Education (FDOE) is partnering with Florida Atlantic University (FAU) on a three-year, $5.7 million initiative designed to improve reading and mathematics performance in high-need schools while helping educators develop the skills needed to use artificial intelligence in the classroom.
The program, known as Literacy Education for Augmented Praxis by Artificial Intelligence (LEAP-AI), will focus on strengthening teaching practices, preparing school leaders, and creating new opportunities for people interested in becoming teachers.
The initiative brings together FAU, the Florida Department of Education, Broward County Public Schools, and Miami Dade College.
Its main focus will be 18 high-need schools in Broward County, where participating educators will receive additional training, coaching, and professional development opportunities.
State education officials said the program is intended to address immediate classroom needs while helping schools prepare for changes in technology and the education workforce.
“Great teachers and strong school leaders drive student success,” said Commissioner of Education Henry Mack. “LEAP-AI puts the right partners on the same page: stronger literacy instruction, clearer career pathways into the classroom, and a practical way for schools to use new technology. Florida is investing in educators, so students get better opportunities.”
Improving student performance in literacy and mathematics is a central part of LEAP-AI.
According to state assessment results, 64% of Broward County third-grade students performed at or above grade level on the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking (FAST) English Language Arts assessment in 2026.
That figure was higher than the statewide result of 60%, but education officials said additional work is needed to address learning gaps.
The initiative will concentrate on reading instruction, mathematics, English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), and leadership development.
Rather than focusing only on students, the program will provide teachers and administrators with additional resources intended to strengthen the quality of classroom instruction.
Broward County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn said professional development is an important part of improving student outcomes.
“At Broward County Public Schools, investing in our educators is one of the most powerful investments we can make in our students,” said Superintendent Dr. Howard Hepburn. “This partnership will give our teachers and school leaders innovative tools and opportunities to grow while keeping the focus where it belongs — improving student achievement and preparing our students for the future.”
LEAP-AI will operate through three main areas, each addressing a different part of the education system.
The first focuses on school leadership.
Eighteen assistant principals will participate in a two-year leadership development pathway that includes coaching, literacy-focused leadership instruction, and AI literacy training.
Participants will also receive support as they work toward Florida Level 2 Principal Certification.
The second part of the program will provide classroom teachers with professional development opportunities focused on literacy and artificial intelligence.
Teachers will be able to earn AI and literacy micro-credentials, participate in coaching sessions, and collaborate through professional learning communities.
Statewide gatherings focused on mathematics and literacy will also be organized to support the exchange of instructional practices.
At least 100 educators are expected to complete the micro-credential training.
The third pathway will address teacher recruitment and preparation through a Registered Educator Apprenticeship program.
This program will allow paraprofessionals and aspiring teachers to work toward professional credentials while remaining employed.
Eighteen apprentices are expected to enter the program, which will focus on preparing educators in reading, ESOL, and mathematics.
These are areas identified by the initiative as priorities for addressing teacher shortages.
A major component of LEAP-AI is helping educators understand how artificial intelligence can be used effectively and responsibly.
The program will incorporate AI literacy into professional development for teachers and school leaders, alongside established approaches to reading and mathematics instruction.
Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega said the partnership reflects the growing need to prepare educators for technological changes.
“LEAP-AI brings K-12 and higher education together to strengthen the educator pipeline and prepare teachers to use AI effectively and responsibly,” said Miami Dade College President Madeline Pumariega. “At Miami Dade College, we believe technology is most powerful when it strengthens human talent, expands opportunity and helps every student succeed.”
FAU President Adam Hasner also highlighted the connection between emerging technology and workforce preparation.
“Florida Atlantic prepares students for a rapidly changing world, and LEAP-AI extends that mission by providing our region’s educators with the emerging tools and training needed to ensure Broward’s K-12 students achieve lasting success,” said FAU President Adam Hasner. “We are proud to shape what comes next for Florida while strengthening its talent pipelines and expanding opportunity for both students and educators.”
The initiative is not limited to introducing new technology. It also emphasizes helping educators strengthen their existing instructional skills while learning how AI can support their work.
FAU professor of educational leadership Daniel Reyes-Guerra, who serves as the project’s principal investigator, said the program combines current educational needs with long-term workforce development.
“Teachers cannot improve what they are not equipped to teach,” said Daniel Reyes-Guerra, FAU professor of educational leadership and LEAP-AI principal investigator. “We are strengthening evidence-based literacy now and training the next generation of educators to use AI responsibly. That is how you raise results today and build the workforce Florida will need tomorrow.”
Beyond the 18 participating Broward schools, the initiative is expected to produce resources that other education systems can use.
FAU plans to develop a replication toolkit designed to help additional school districts and teacher preparation programs adopt similar approaches.
The three-year project is supported by a $5.7 million federal grant through the Supporting Effective Educator Development program, administered by the U.S. Department of Education through the U.S. Department of Labor.
By the end of the initiative, officials expect at least 100 educators to complete specialized training, 18 assistant principals to finish the leadership pathway, and 18 apprentices to begin working toward teaching certification.
The partnership is intended to strengthen classroom instruction today while preparing Florida’s education workforce for the growing role of artificial intelligence in schools.
