The West Morris Regional High School District proudly announces that it has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) through the Artificial Intelligence Innovation in Education Grant program. This funding will support the district’s continued efforts to integrate generative artificial intelligence (AI) into teaching and learning, fostering AI literacy and ethical awareness among students and educators.
Last spring, the West Morris Regional High School District’s AI Task Force established a comprehensive "Vision for the Use of Generative AI in Teaching and Learning," emphasizing AI as a tool to enhance—not replace—independent thought and inquiry-based learning. The grant will enable the district to expand professional development for educators, implement AI-driven instructional strategies, and provide students with hands-on opportunities to explore AI applications, including prompt engineering, problem-solving, and responsible AI use.
“AI is redefining the educational landscape, bringing both opportunities and challenges,” said Melissa Heike, Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction. “This shift requires us to respond with responsibility and foresight, ensuring AI is used ethically and effectively in classrooms. Through this funding, we will explore best practices that empower teachers and students to enhance learning while maintaining the integrity of independent thought.”
The grant application process was rigorous, requiring a deep understanding of the grant’s objectives and their alignment with the district’s AI vision. To navigate the complex grant application process, the district leveraged ChatGPT as a tool to interpret requirements, refine objectives, and ensure clarity in its proposal. "The use of AI in crafting our grant application was a testament to the very principles we aim to teach our students—leveraging technology responsibly to enhance problem-solving and communication," said Heike, "By leveraging AI in this process, we crafted an application that not only met NJDOE’s expectations but also upheld our district’s commitment to advancing a vision of AI-driven learning that is ethical and human-centered."
The funding is part of Governor Phil Murphy’s $1.5 million AI education initiative, which supports New Jersey school districts in integrating AI into K-12 education. The initiative aligns with the state’s AI Moonshot Vision, ensuring that students gain the knowledge and skills needed to thrive in an AI-driven world.
The "Focus on AI Initiative" at West Morris Regional will roll out over the next 12 months, providing educators with targeted professional development on AI integration, implementing AI-supported learning activities for students, and enhancing instructional planning with AI-driven feedback mechanisms. Through this initiative, the district aims to foster AI literacy, ethical awareness, and inquiry-based learning. As part of this initiative, the district will develop an AI Best Practices Guide, documenting effective strategies and lessons learned to support educators across New Jersey in integrating AI thoughtfully and ethically into their classrooms.