Tennessee focuses on AI literacy for future workforce while Kansas initiates a statewide blueprint to enhance student literacy skills, demonstrating significant efforts towards education reform and workforce development.
Tennessee’s Focus on AI Literacy for Future Workforce
In a recent talk at the American Museum of Science and Energy, Lynne Parker, director of the AI Tennessee Initiative at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK), emphasized the importance of AI literacy for everyone, including children. Parker noted that AI is extensively impacting the job market, creating more opportunities than it replaces. She cited economist Richard Baldwin’s assertion that jobs would be taken by individuals proficient in using AI, not AI itself.
Parker, a former White House Office of Science and Technology Policy official, highlighted UTK’s efforts to enhance AI education. This includes the introduction of an AI 101 course and upcoming major and minor programs in applied AI and data science. Additionally, UT plans to partner with Arizona State University to offer the AI 101 course online.
Parker’s remarks also underscored sectors where AI is revolutionizing work, such as healthcare, finance, customer service, education, journalism, and software development. A notable emerging role in AI is that of a prompt engineer, which can command salaries up to $400,000 annually.
Kansas Initiates Blueprint for Literacy
Kansas is implementing a large-scale initiative to enhance literacy among students through the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy. Cindy Lane, who will take over as administrative director, emphasized the personal significance of this project. The Kansas Legislature has allocated $10 million for the initiative, which aims to address the 40% of Kansas public school students who are not proficient in reading.
Lane’s role will involve collaboration with universities and school districts to reform teacher education and provide new literacy tools. The law mandates the creation of an oversight commission, university centers of excellence, and regular accountability reports. Starting this fall, state universities must offer new literacy courses to education students or face financial penalties.
Blake Flanders, president of the Kansas Board of Regents, described the initiative as potentially the largest workforce development project in the state’s history. The Kansas State Board of Education will also participate, retraining thousands of licensed educators. Sen. Molly Baumgardner, a key figure in the legislative effort, stressed the importance of early literacy screening and teacher training.
The advisory committee, which must be established by January 1, 2023, will include representatives from various educational bodies and the legislature. The law aims for significant improvements in student reading proficiency by 2033, aligning with future workforce needs in the state.
