What is the name of your organization?
America On Tech (AOT)
What is the name of your solution?
AI Pathways: Expanding Access
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
Equip high school educators to deliver AI course instruction and expand student AI skills development through AOT’s scalable, earned revenue model.
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
New York, NY, USA
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
USA
What type of organization is your solution team?
Nonprofit
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Students from income-constrained communities face growing barriers to entering careers in the technology sector. Schools in low-income areas offer 12 times fewer computer science courses than their higher-income counterparts, and over one-third of low-income households lack access to a computer or digital device—limiting early exposure to foundational technical skills.
This disparity is even more urgent considering that jobs requiring AI skills are projected to grow by 71% in the next five years (LinkedIn, 2024), with roles like Prompt Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, and AI Product Manager now appearing across multiple sectors. Despite this, high school curricula have not kept pace, and cost barriers remain high: coding bootcamps charge an average of $13,000, and most schools lack the resources or expertise to introduce AI coursework. A recent survey found that while 70% of college graduates believe AI training should be integrated into coursework, 55% said their programs did not adequately prepare them for today’s workforce.
The National Skills Coalition reports that 92% of jobs now require digital skills, yet nearly one-third of U.S. workers lack basic digital literacy. Without scalable solutions to expand access to tech education, these trends will continue to limit financial mobility and contribute to billions in lost wages.
What is your solution?
America On Tech (AOT) is a national nonprofit transforming the technology sector by creating pathways for underestimated young people into tech degrees and careers. To extend our impact beyond these physical regions, AOT developed a Train the Trainer (TtT) model that allows us to scale our proven curriculum nationwide by equipping high school educators—many without prior technical experience—to confidently deliver AOT’s AI coursework. Educators receive lesson plans, video tutorials, classroom activities, and ongoing support. Once trained, they can teach the program directly in their schools.
This approach enables schools to deliver high-quality, future-ready AI training without relying on in-house experts or costly external providers. By equipping educators through a scalable training model and using accessible, browser-based tools like Google Classroom, Teachable Machine, Knime, Rapidminer and Ikigai, AOT allows students to engage with real AI applications—no prior coding experience or expensive equipment required. This model expands access to critical skills in under-resourced communities while generating sustainable revenue to reinvest in program innovation and long-term growth.
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
While AOT currently operates in New York (2014), Los Angeles (2019), and Miami (2022), with Atlanta launching this fall (2025), our TtT model expands our reach to school districts and educational partners outside our physical regions. Through this approach, we aim to serve students in under-resourced communities across the country, particularly Title 1 schools, by equipping their educators—many without prior technical training—to deliver AOT’s AI curriculum with confidence and fidelity.
The students served attend schools where at least 70% qualify for free or reduced lunch, with household incomes ranging from $38,000 to $45,000. Many face barriers such as unreliable internet access, after-school work obligations, and limited exposure to technology careers. These conditions limit access to quality STEM education and prevent early engagement with future-ready skills like artificial intelligence.
By training teachers to deliver AI instruction directly, AOT’s TtT model removes cost and access barriers, scaling equitable learning opportunities without requiring full program infrastructure in every location. The result is a broader pipeline of students prepared to pursue college or careers in technology—closing opportunity gaps and expanding economic mobility in communities that have been historically excluded from high-growth industries.