Connecticut AI Pilot Program — Six Districts Test State-Approved AI Tools in Grades 5–12, With an Independent UConn-Led Evaluation

Following state legislation passed in July 2024, the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) invited districts to apply for grants to buy AI tools and professional-development resources from state-approved vendors. Six districts took part during the 2024–25 school year: East Hartford, Lebanon, Rocky Hill, Seymour, Westport and Odyssey Community School, each choosing tools for particular grades and subjects between Grades 5 and 12. The CSDE announcement cites grants of $50,000 to $100,000 per district.
The Center for Connecticut Education Research Collaboration (University of Connecticut and Southern Connecticut State University; Lamb, Soroya, Lin, Wentzell and Williams) published the final evaluation in October 2026. It draws on surveys of 735 students and 58 teachers across all six districts and focus groups with 32 students and teachers in four districts. Teachers found AI useful for planning and differentiation; the most useful uses were teacher-designed, content-specific resources such as chatbots that help students compare writing with rubrics.
The findings are cautionary as well as positive. Students and teachers reported frequent errors, especially in mathematics, and worried about accuracy, ethics and appropriate use; most students were ambivalent. Teacher professional development and peer collaboration were judged vital, and the report recommends clear district guidance. The evaluation relies on perceptions and does not measure learning outcomes, and public sources differ on whether the pilot began with six or seven districts.

Read the full analysis: https://portal.ct.gov/ccerc/-/media/ccerc/reports/ai-pilot-project-october-2026.pdf