SPRINGDALE — Two high school students will represent Arkansas in helping create a “K-12 National AI Policy” this summer.
Springdale School District students Danielle Robertson and Ramey Jones will attend the School Superintendents Association 2026 Leadership and Innovation Fellowship July 17-19 in Massachusetts. The fellowship includes the America’s Youth AI Festival, where students from across the country will convene and discuss the role of artificial intelligence in education.
“Student senators” will represent each state at the national summit, which takes place at multiple Boston area venues, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The trip is fully funded for participating students, according to a Tuesday news release.
Student delegates will ultimately meet at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute — in an exact replica of the U.S. Senate chamber — to establish a national AI policy. The School Superintendents Association will share the new AI Policy with its membership of more than 10,000 school leaders.
“It is a surreal opportunity to represent Arkansas in a replica of the U.S. Senate chamber,” Jones said in the release. “AI is moving so fast that it often feels like the rules are being written as we go, so having a seat at the table to help draft a National AI Policy is a huge responsibility. I’m looking forward to collaborating with students across the country to ensure that as AI changes our schools, it does so in a way that is ethical, innovative and driven by student voices.”
Jared Cleveland, superintendent for the Springdale School District, said in the news release he is proud of Ramey and Robertson. He said they represent students taking an active role in shaping their futures.
“In Springdale, we strive to empower our students to be more than just consumers of technology, we want them to be the architects of the future,” he said. “By participating in the Student AI Senate in Boston, these students are demonstrating that Arkansas is at the forefront of educational innovation and ethical AI leadership.”
The School Superintendents Association is hosting the summit in partnership with the nonprofit Day of AI. The nonprofit works closely with Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers to help students, families and educators navigate the rise of AI in educational spaces with instructional curriculum.
Day of AI research shows that 97.6% of people surveyed reported a stronger understanding of how AI works after using the Day of AI curriculum, according to the release. Over 90% participants said they better understood the benefits and risks of AI.
“Arkansas is helping lead an important national conversation about the future of AI in education,” Jeffrey Riley, executive director of Day of AI and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, said in the release. “America’s Youth AI Festival is designed to elevate student voice at a moment when AI is reshaping schools and society. We’re proud to welcome Ramey and Danielle this July.”
