H.R. 5351
NSF AI Education Act of 2025
Sponsor: Vince Fong · 28 cosponsors
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Official summary
Written by the Congressional Research Service.
NSF AI Education Act of 2025
This bill establishes, or authorizes the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish, various scholarship, fellowship, and grant programs to promote education and professional development related to artificial intelligence (AI).
The bill authorizes NSF to award scholarships and fellowships to college students focusing their studies on AI. NSF may also support AI-related professional development fellowships for (1) students and faculty, (2) K-12 teachers and school professionals, and (3) industry professionals seeking short-term appointments to teach AI.
NSF must also establish up to eight centers of AI excellence at community colleges or area career and technical education schools. Designated centers must develop best practices for AI research and education, integrating AI into the classroom, and facilitating partnerships with the private sector, among other topics. This program must be administered in coordination with the Department of Commerce Regional Technology and Innovation Hubs program.
NSF may make merit-based grants to eligible entities, including institutions of higher education and nonprofit organizations, for research on AI teaching models, integration of AI in the classroom, and AI’s impact on educational outcomes for students through grade 12. Awards must be used to (1) prepare K-12 teachers to integrate AI into their classrooms; and (2) research, test, and implement AI-related instructional materials, teaching models, and professional development for teachers.
Finally, NSF may establish a pilot program through which regional cohorts will provide AI-related peer support, mentoring, and research experiences to K-12 teachers and school leaders.
Text of the bill
Paragraph (2) of section 540l(e) of the National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020 (15 U.S.C. 9451(e); enacted as part of title LIV of division E of the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116–283)) is amended—
(1) in the heading, by striking Faculty; and
(2) by adding at the end the following new subparagraphs:
(D) Student scholarships and fellowships in artificial intelligence
(i) In general. The Director of the National Science Foundation may support scholarships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students by making awards through institutions of higher education, including community colleges, to students who are enrolled in programs of study leading to degrees or concentrations in or related to the design, research, assessment, development, deployment, integration, or application of artificial intelligence.
(ii) Considerations. In carrying out clause (i), the Director of the National Science Foundation may prioritize making awards to students who are enrolled in programs of study leading to degrees or concentrations in or related to any of the following:
(I) The teaching of artificial intelligence at elementary schools, secondary schools, career and technical education schools, institutions of higher education, or through other higher education and professional education programs.
(II) Artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing, including the integration of artificial intelligence into advanced manufacturing operations.
(III) Artificial intelligence and agriculture, including the integration of artificial intelligence into agricultural operations, prediction, and decision making.
(iii) Awards. Scholarships and fellowships awarded under this subparagraph may be in the form of awards that may cover the cost of tuition, education-related fees, a stipend, and professional development funds for a period of up to five years. Such scholarships and fellowships shall be paid directly to the institution of higher education in which the student is enrolled.
(iv) Outreach. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall conduct outreach and encourage applications from rural-located institutions of higher education, rural-serving institutions of higher education, emerging research institutions, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and institutions located in an Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) jurisdiction.
(v) Method. The Director of the National Science Foundation may carry out this subparagraph by making awards through new or existing programs.
(E) Artificial intelligence professional development fellowships
(i) In general. The Director of the National Science Foundation may support activities to promote the exchange of ideas and encourage collaborations between institutions of higher education and industry partners in the field of artificial intelligence, including through fellowships for students, teachers, faculty, and industry professionals.
(ii) Supplementals for students and faculty. The Director of the National Science Foundation may award fellowships for students and faculty to pursue professional development programs in STEM fields that are administered by or affiliated with institutions of higher education, including community colleges, in order to enable recipients to attain skills, training, or education in partnership with industry members on the design, research, assessment, development, deployment, integration, or application of artificial intelligence.
(iii) Fellowships for industry professionals. The Director of the National Science Foundation may award fellowships to industry professionals to enable recipients to seek short-term appointments to instruct and educate students on the design, research, assessment, development, deployment, integration, or application of artificial intelligence.
(iv) Fellowships for school professionals. The Director of the National Science Foundation may award fellowships to teachers, school counselors, and other school professionals for professional development programs in order to enable recipients to attain skills, training, or education in partnership with industry members on the teaching, use of, or application of artificial intelligence in K–12 settings.
(v) Awards. Awards made under this subparagraph may be in the form of an award that covers the cost of tuition, education-related fees, a stipend, and professional development funds for up to one year. Such awards shall be paid directly to the institution of higher education that administers, or is affiliated with, the program in which the fellowship recipient is participating.
(F) National Science Foundation outreach campaign. The Director of the National Science Foundation may carry out a nationwide outreach campaign to industry as well as students at elementary schools, secondary schools, career and technical education schools, and institutions of higher education, or through other higher education and professional education programs, to increase awareness regarding National Science Foundation-funded artificial intelligence education opportunities.
(G) Eligibility. To be eligible to receive a scholarship or fellowship under this paragraph, an individual shall satisfy all of the following:
(i) Be a citizen, national, or lawful permanent resident of the United States.
(ii) Demonstrate a commitment to a career in advancing the field of artificial intelligence.
(iii) Accept the terms of a fellowship under this subparagraph.
(H) Reports
(i) In general. Not later than seven years after the date of the enactment of this subparagraph, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall submit to Congress, and make widely available to the public, a report including any recommendations for legislative action that could optimize the effectiveness of the scholarships and fellowships under this paragraph.
(ii) Requirements. In preparing the reports under clause (i), the Director of the National Science Foundation may, as practicable—
(I) include an assessment of the effectiveness of such scholarships and fellowships in expanding apprenticeships, internships, and other applied or experiential learning opportunities offered by employers in conjunction with community colleges or other institutions of higher education;
(II) assess the number of students who received such scholarships and fellowship;
(III) assess the percentage of such students who successfully complete their education programs and who intend to enter the workforce;
(IV) assess the percentage of undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students who enter the workforce in a field relating to such scholarship or fellowship;
(V) assess the impact on the number of K–12 teachers, school counselors, and other school professionals who received such scholarships or fellowships; and
(VI) include an assessment of the effects such scholarships and fellowships have on related fields.