Category Archives: education

OPPORTUNITY: Mobile Beacon Wi-Fly Connectivity Kit grants for schools, libraries, healthcare providers, and nonprofits

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From the Mobile Beacon website...

Mobile Beacon wants to put the power of unlimited, anytime/anywhere internet access into the hands of schools, libraries, healthcare providers, and nonprofits to create lasting change.

DEADLINE December 31, 2026

Empowering Communities
to Go Digital

We believe local organizations play an essential role in building digital equity, and we want to empower you with the resources you need to make that happen.

You know the people you serve best, so our Wi-Fly Connectivity Kit provides the tools to harness the power of the internet and place it directly into the hands of those who need it most.

Each winning organization will receive:

Computer Connectivity Grant

You’ll receive

  • 25 Chromebooks
  • 25 T-10 Hotspots
  • 2 year Mobile Unlimited Data Service

Mobile Connectivity Grant

You’ll receive

  • 10 T-10 Mobile Hotspots
  • 2 years Mobile Unlimited Data Service

Service Line
Grant

You’ll receive

  • 10 Mobile Unlimited SIM Cards
  • 2 years Mobile Unlimited Data Service

Hibbing Historical Society expands online access to historic newspapers (St Louis County)

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IRRRB Ranger reports…

Hibbing Historical Society partnered with the Minnesota Historical Society to digitize nearly 90,000 pages of historic Hibbing and Chisholm newspapers, making local history easier to access and preserve. The newspapers are being added to the Minnesota Digital Newspaper Hub, a free online database that allows users to search by date, keyword and location.

Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation supported the project with a $27,900 Culture & Tourism grant. Total project investment was $67,500.

Previously available only on microfilm, the newspapers are now being converted into high-quality digital scans that include articles, photographs and other historical content. The searchable collection helps residents, visitors, students and researchers explore local families, businesses, mining history and community events from any computer or smartphone. The archives are also accessible through public library computers in Hibbing and Chisholm and at Minnesota Discovery Center.

Since the first newspapers became available online in June 2026, the Hibbing and Chisholm collections recorded more than 7,200 accesses in their first two months. Phase 1 was completed ahead of schedule and included nearly 90,000 pages. Fundraising for Phase 2 is underway.

The project is supported by the cities of Hibbing and Chisholm and their public libraries, with Hibbing Historical Society managing the project and funding. The effort preserves important historical records while expanding public access to the region’s history.

The newspapers are available at https://www.mnhs.org/newspapers/hub.

My librarian heart is so happy.

Did FCC exceed their authority when it established the USAC to administer the Universal Service Fund?

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I wrote a little bit about Universal Service Fund and USAC early in the summer; I’m going to borrow heavily from Doug Dawson to give the update and his astute perspective…

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that the FCC had exceeded its statutory authority  years ago when it established the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) to administer the Universal Service Fund.

The case in front of the court involved Consumers’ Research, which challenged the latest FCC calculation of the contribution factor used to establish the fee that telcos pay into the fund. Consumers’ Research had also challenged the FCC’s authority to establish USAC to administer the fund.

Doug gives a great explanation of the role of USAC in his article, I’m going to shortcut it and say, they manage the funds for the FCC But the FCC makes the calls. Which leads to some questions…

What does this ruling mean? The FCC has to first decide how it wants to respond to the court ruling. It’s been reported in the press that the FCC says the ruling goes into effect in two months if the agency doesn’t  appeal the ruling. If the FCC appeals the ruling, the most routine outcome would be a court ordering business as usual until that appeal can be heard. It’s not certain that the FCC will appeal the case, and if it doesn’t, things get messy very quickly.

The FCC would have to somehow try to take over USAC functions. The agency is not staffed to do so, which would likely result in chaos. It probably wouldn’t be easy, or even possible, for the FCC to somehow absorb USAC staff.

The companies that pay into the USF would be in limbo because the collection process would be disrupted. I picture legal challenges and confusion and possibly lawsuits related to whether telcos owe fees to the FCC, the federal Treasury, or to nobody. Disbursements from the fund would quickly be disrupted. That would be a major problem for the many entities that draw payments from the $9 billion annual fund. It’s hard to picture what happens when schools can no longer pay their broadband bill or ISPs suddenly stop receiving RDOF or other subsidies. Millions of people would likely lose their monthly billing discounts from Lifeline. USAC also has extensive audit powers, and it’s not clear that the FCC could insert itself into existing audits.

The only alternative to the above chaos would be if Congress quickly stepped in to provide some way to keep the USAC functions going. That sounds like a huge challenge in a lame duck session during the holidays. Stay tuned, because this could turn into something extremely messy.

DEED Awards More Than $2.5 Million in Grants to Minnesota Colleges and Universities for Employer Workforce Development Projects

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DEED announces…

Today, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced 14 workforce developments grants totaling over $2.5 million to eight Minnesota educational institutions that are partnering with Minnesota businesses to develop and deliver customized workforce training programs. Grantees expect to train more than 2,000 workers through these programs.

“Workforce training programs strengthen Minnesota’s economy by helping workers build their skills and lay the foundations for long-term success for businesses and Minnesota families. By creating a pool of trained program graduates, we can connect highly-skilled workers to careers in high-demand fields with family sustaining wages,” said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. “Minnesota’s higher education institutions are essential partners in that work, with proven track records in delivering effective, customized training programs for Minnesota businesses.”

Participating businesses must partner with an accredited educational institution for these Minnesota Jobs Skills Partnership (MJSP) grants, awarded to the educational institution to develop and deliver custom training for the business. Programming covered by the grants includes onboarding and training new workers, upskilling current workers, promoting workforce diversity, defining career pathways, developing communication and leadership skills, and more.

Since 2019, MJSP has awarded $47.5 million to train more than 47,000 workers and has leveraged $79.1 million in private funding.

Grants announced today include:

$466,977 to Normandale Community College for a partnership with Seagate Technology

Seagate Technology, with operations in Bloomington and Shakopee, is the world’s leading supplier of hard disk drives. Seagate will invest in a training program that will reduce turnover, mitigate the impact of retirements and create pathways for advancement at all levels. Normandale Community College will develop a training program for incumbent employees focusing on building skills in four areas: leadership and supervisor excellence, applied problem solving, operational excellence and improvement and data, automation and emerging technology skills. Participants completing the courses in operational excellence and improvement will be eligible to take the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC) exam to become Certified Production Technicians.

$432,869 to the University of Minnesota for a partnership with Boston Scientific

Boston Scientific, a leading global medical technology company, needs to equip employees with AI-related and digital skills by integrating these capabilities into existing roles and prioritizing workforce retention. A partnership with Carlson School of Management will develop the AI Demystification Initiative, a three-part leadership development and business impact program designed to build strategic AI and analytics capability. The initiative consists of three integrated components: AI Project, Strategic Implementation and AI Operational Execution. Instruction will be delivered in classrooms, hands-on AI labs and structured faculty coaching. Upon completion, engineers and leadership will receive a certificate from Carlson Executive Education.

$357,637 to Hennepin Technical College for a partnership with Medtronic

Medtronic is a Minnesota-based global leader in healthcare technology. Medical device manufacturing is undergoing rapid automation and technological advancements, resulting in a growing skills gap in equipment maintenance for complex advanced robotic and automated systems. Hennepin Technical College will develop and deliver comprehensive automation robotics training to incumbent employees. Courses will include Automation Controls, Industrial Electricity and Electronics, Introduction to Robotics, Fuji Automatic Numerical Control (FANUC) and Fluid Power Motion Control and be fully or partially aligned with industry-recognized certification exams.

$300,000 to Century College for a partnership with Aprios

Aprios, headquartered in Brooklyn Park, is an employee-owned custom manufacturing company specializing in high-precision plastic injection molding and additive manufacturing. The company serves medical devices, industrial, filtration and aerospace markets. Century College will create a training program that will develop technical, operational and leadership capabilities across the organization. Classroom instruction will be combined with applied, workplace-based learning, incorporating theory, case studies, guided exercises and hands-on experience within Aprios’ manufacturing environment.

$260,000 to Normandale Community College for a partnership with Advanced Web Technologies

Advanced Web Technologies (AWT), headquartered in Minneapolis, specializes in custom labeling, packaging and precision converting solutions. AWT will partner with Normandale Community College to develop a scalable, equitable and sustainable training program to support the increasing complexity of the production, administration, supervisory and leadership roles of its workforce. Training will be delivered on-site through instructor-led sessions, cohort-based learning and applied, scenario-based exercises. Upon completion, trainees will receive Lean Six Sigma Certifications.

$200,000 to Hennepin Technical College for a partnership with Heliene USA

Heliene USA is a lead producer of solar photovoltaic modules with high-capacity manufacturing facilities located in Mountain Iron and Rogers. Heliene will partner with Hennepin Technical College and Minnesota North College to create a course to invest in consistent education and skill development at their facilities. The course will ensure all entry-level and existing employees have sufficient background to support growing production and troubleshooting needs, integrate safe, efficient and quality practices across all functions, and develop a minimum level of cross-functional knowledge. Training completion will result in hours-based certificates for each skill area with opportunities for credit-for-prior learning transfer for both colleges.

$135,626 to St. Cloud State University for a partnership with Park Industries

Park Industries, headquartered in St. Cloud, is a leading manufacturer of stone fabrication machinery. Park Industries wants to build a comprehensive, scalable workforce development system that expands training capacity, advances leadership capability, strengthens customer-facing effectiveness, and enhances workplace culture and safety. St. Cloud State University will develop a two-track training program consisting of Track One: Organizational & Workforce Development and Track Two: Sales & Customer Facing Excellence. All courses will be delivered in-person or online with interactive, scenario-based instruction and hands-on practice. Track One participants will earn industry-recognized HubSpot CRM and SMEI certifications.

$130,000 to Century College for a partnership with J&B Group

J&B Group, located in St. Michael, is a family-owned and operated cold chain provider of protein and deli products for a variety of supply chain needs. J&B wants to invest in a comprehensive, multi-phase leadership development strategy to address a skills gap in leadership competencies. The company will partner with Century College to develop a two-phased development and change capability initiative. Phase One: Accelerate Leadership Development Program will consist of instructor-led workshops focused on foundational leadership behaviors. Phase Two: Advanced Leadership Development & Succession readiness will focus on deepening leadership capability through the Leadership Mentoring Program, Self-Awareness & Leadership Assessments and ExperienceChange Simulation for hands-on practice in navigating realistic change scenarios.

$49,997 to Hennepin Technical College for a partnership with La Machine Shop

La Machine Shop, located in Ham Lake, is a family owned and operated precision machining contract manufacturer services. La Machine Shop is preparing to operate in a more regulated, defense-ready operating environment and needs to train its incumbent workforce for the transition. Hennepin Technical College will design a 38-hour training program with nine modules covering secure handling of controlled technical information, enclave-user workflows, paper CUI procedures, cybersecurity awareness, approved communication and subcontractor transfer practices, incident recognition and escalation, supervisor accountability and internal sustainment. Instruction will be delivered using a blended approach, including workshops, small groups, awareness-based instruction and scenario-based exercises.

$49,963 to Anoka-Ramsey Community College for a partnership with MRG Tool & Die

MRG Tool & Die is a family-owned small business in Faribault operating as a sole-source tool and die company specializing in close-tolerance metalworking. MRG wants to provide AI readiness training to transition its workforce and support effective integration of AI into core business operations. Anoka-Ramsey Community College, in partnership with MRG, will develop a twelve-month training program consisting of five courses totaling 40 hours of in-person instruction. Training will focus on building AI literacy across all occupational levels while piloting AI-driven projects that address specific business challenges.

$49,794 to Anoka-Ramsey Community College for a partnership with Mate Precision

Located in Anoka, Mate Precision Technologies specializes in work holding tooling devices and technologies for machinery, computers, peripherals, networking and electronic equipment industries. Mate wants to invest in workforce training to adopt, apply and integrate next-generation technologies within manufacturing processes and functions, including AI- and IT-based data analytics. Anoka-Ramsey Community College will develop a four-course training program totaling 44 training hours to be delivered in-person and on-site over a twelve-month period. Current employees will be selected for training from technical trades and manufacturing occupations.

$49,625 to Anoka-Ramsey Community College for a partnership with PE Services

PE Services, located in Eagan, delivers comprehensive civil engineering and construction services, including design and plan preparation, specification and plan review, construction oversight, and schedule analysis. The company also provides robust contract administration, project controls, and environmental compliance support. PE Services needs to train its workforce in AI as the company adopts AI-based tools to improve operational performance. In partnership with PE Services, Anoka-Ramsey Community College will develop a five-course training program totaling 48 training hours to be delivered in-person and on-site over a twelve-month period.

$49,000 to MN State Community & Technical College for a partnership with Alexandria Industries

Alexandria Industries designs and manufactures precision aluminum components. Partnering with Alexandria Industries, MN State Community & Technical college will provide customized training consisting of a 30-hour Serving Through Leadership Program for current and emerging leaders and a 15-hour Professional Development Program for employees across the organization. Training will strengthen leadership effectiveness, employee engagement, communication, professional development and organization culture, and be delivered through self-assessments, group discussions, reflection activities, team exercises, coaching conversations and real-world workplace applications. Participants completing training will receive certificates of completion.

$40,000 to Minnesota State University, Mankato for a partnership with Capstone

Capstone, headquartered in North Mankato, is an industry-leading publisher of children’s books and digital content provider for children and young adults. Capstone has identified AI as a key opportunity for increasing productivity, reducing manual work and accelerating workflows. MN State University, Mankato will provide AI training in two online courses: Foundations of AI Intelligence, 1.5 hours of interactive virtual delivery of key topics including ethical considerations, company policy and how to generate accurate and useful outputs, and Applied AI for Role- and Department-Specific Workflows, four hours of hands-on, role-specific training for integrating AI into daily workflows in content development, research, data analysis and communication.

Minnesota School Boards Association (and others) comments on FCC efforts to reduce E-Rate

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The 74 shares comments from educators on proposed changes to E-Rate, including a comment from Minnesota…

The Trump administration’s plan to revise, or potentially discontinue, broadband discounts for schools and libraries is overwhelmingly unpopular, judging by the thousands of comments submitted since August.

Pleas from school administrators, librarians and education advocates to protect E-Rate represent the majority of the statements to the Federal Communications Commission. In June, Chairman Brendan Carr called for “right-sizing” the program and linked concerns about children’s excessive screen time to the 30-year-old program. But the education sector emphasizes that the funding supports not only instruction, but also systems like security, payroll and nutrition.

“Before a student even enters a classroom, E-Rate helps provide the network infrastructure that keeps Minnesota’s school districts running,” wrote Kimberley Dunn Lewis, associate director of government relations for the Minnesota School Boards Association. “When that connectivity is unavailable or unreliable, it can disrupt basic school operations and compromise districts’ ability to safely and effectively serve students.”

Could data centers help supplement USF?

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Broadband Breakfast reports…

A federal broadband subsidy program under financial duress could get bailed out by AI-related companies, as policymakers consider making major users of broadband infrastructure contribute to universal service.

Universal service reform could expand the pool of companies that help finance broadband networks to include hyperscalers, cloud providers and other major users of internet infrastructure, according to former FCC officials and broadband advocates.

SHLB looks at economics of cutting E-Rate. It would cost the US $4.2 Billion a Year

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Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition (SHLB) takes a look at the economics of discontinuing (or reducing) E-Rate programming, which pays for a considerable amount of broadband connectivity in schools and libraries…

The Federal Communications Commission is considering eliminating or significantly reducing E Rate support ($2.6 billion in 2025) for broadband connectivity and related services provided to schools and libraries. While eliminating the program would reduce Universal Service Fund expenditures, it would also increase the effective cost of broadband services for public and private K-12 schools and libraries that increasingly rely on digital connectivity to support teaching, learning, school operations and security, cybersecurity, internal and external communications, and access to online educational and informational resources. Nearly every critical function in schools and libraries now relies on the network, including door locks and access controls, security cameras, bus scheduling and transportation systems, cafeteria
payment systems, payroll, student information systems, attendance and grading platforms, and communications with students, staff, and families. Because broadband has become an essential educational input rather than a discretionary expenditure, schools and libraries cannot simply replace connectivity with teachers, books, buildings, or other educational resources. Paying more for connectivity therefore leaves less money available for the other goods and services needed to provide education and library services.
We use Brattle’s BEYOND computable general equilibrium (“CGE”) model to estimate the economy-wide contribution of E-Rate. Our primary counterfactual eliminates the program while recognizing that broadband and internal network infrastructure remain necessary inputs. The results indicate that eliminating approximately $2.6 billion in annual E-Rate support would reduce real GDP by approximately $4.2 billion annually, real wages by $2.8 billion, and tax revenues by approximately $1.5 billion. Thus, each dollar of E-Rate support is associated with approximately $1.60 in GDP. The measured economic loss exceeds the amount of federal support removed because without E-Rate, schools and libraries must devote more of their own budgets to connectivity, leaving less available to support the overall level of education and library services. As school spending generates greater follow-on economic activity than
broadband spending, institutions purchase fewer non-broadband goods and services from other suppliers and use less labor, and those reductions propagate through household income, spending, and tax revenues.
Eliminating just support for connectivity infrastructure (Category 2), including routers, switches, Wi-Fi access points, cabling, managed internal broadband, and related infrastructure needed to distribute connectivity within schools and libraries, would also have substantial effects.
Eliminating Category 2 alone (approximately $1.2 billion in annual support) produces an estimated $2.5 billion decline in GDP, $1.6 billion reduction in real wages, and $0.9 billion reduction in tax revenues.
Finally, we find that even unsubstantiated concerns about waste, fraud, inefficient procurement, or otherwise unproductive expenditures do not materially change these
conclusions. Even under a deliberately conservative assumption that 2.5% of E-Rate support generates no intended economic benefit given that the improper payment level has already been found to be lower than 1.5%,1 the associated GDP loss is approximately $113.9 million, or
only about 2.7% of the GDP loss from eliminating E-Rate altogether. The results demonstrate that eliminating a productive program to prevent a comparatively small amount of ineffective spending can impose economic costs substantially greater than the inefficiency being addressed.
The FCC’s review should therefore distinguish between monetary savings and economic benefits.

MN Schools respond to AI demand with new degrees

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MPR reports...

Artificial intelligence is everywhere in the headlines: from debates over data centers to concerns about the power of AI, elected officials and everyday people are figuring out the role of this technology in our lives.

In greater Minnesota, two professors have recently pushed to add new master’s degree programs on AI at their universities. They say itps needed to meet the challenges and opportunities of our time.

MPR News host Nina Moini spoke with Minnesota State University Mankato professor Rajeev Bukralia, who helped launch the school’s master’s in AI program last year. Moini also spoke with Minnesota State University Moorhead professor Andrew Chen, who is helping the school launch its master’s in AI program in fall 2027.

UofM student used AI makerspace to create app to detect sustainability of food

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I love a good makerspace story, especially in Minnesota! This one from the University of Minnesota caught my eye…

 [Student Daquari Hollins] started thinking, ‘Well, is there anything that exists that shows the sustainability practices of every product that you buy?’”

Hollins could not find an app on the market that offered that level of transparency, so he decided to build it himself.

The result is UConserve, a sustainability lifestyle app designed to give consumers immediate environmental transparency right at the grocery store shelf. By allowing users to scan the barcode of any domestic product, the application generates a screening-level estimate of its carbon footprint alongside deeper sustainability factors like acidification and eutrophication.

The tool bridges a critical gap for everyday shoppers trying to make ethical choices. In a time when socially conscious shoppers can find it difficult to understand a company’s carbon footprint, the app provides a glimpse into the hidden environmental toll of manufacturing, transportation and disposal.

He found a way at an AI Makerspace…

Turning his vision into a reality required bridging two historically isolated worlds: environmental data analysis and advanced computer science. When Hollins initially pitched the idea to peers in an environmental student group, he was met with skepticism. The work would likely be tedious to calculate an accurate environmental estimate for even a single item.

“I took that feedback in stride,” he says. “I was like, OK, it’s a huge undertaking, but that’s not impossible.”

To solve the scale problem, Hollins looked outside traditional sustainability disciplines. This interdisciplinary approach led him to the University of Minnesota’s AI Makerspace, where he collaborated with its manager, Joe Finnegan, and eventually consulted nationwide life-cycle assessment (LCA) professionals. By combining environmental science with machine learning, the team found a way to take massive, vetted government databases and translate them into an instantaneous mobile tool.

Located in Walter Library, the College of Science and Engineering’s AI Makerspace serves as a hybrid physical and digital sandbox designed to break down barriers for students from all academic backgrounds. Whether a student is studying computer science or philosophy, such as Hollins, the space provides free access to high-powered computing resources and expert guidance.

Former federal leader in Education Technology starts a conversation about tech in the classroom in the Star Tribune

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Anhil Hurkadli, former acting deputy director for the Office of Educational Technology and chief of staff for the Office of Planning, Evaluation, and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education, lives in Minneapolis. The Minnesota Star Tribune recently published an Opinion Piece from him on technology in the classroom…

The 2024 National Educational Technology Plan identified three digital “divides” that characterize more precisely where our intentions fall short: the digital access divide (who does or doesn’t have connectivity, content and devices); the digital-use divide (active or passive technology used to complete instructional tasks); and the digital design divide (systems providing ongoing, robust professional support to ensure all educators use technology more effectively, or not). A student, parent, educator or administrator can use this language to better pinpoint the specific issues technology is creating in their school community.

The letter goes on to offer some recommendations to students, parents, educators and district leaders. He also discussion the importance of policy…

Minnesota is exceptional in many ways, but we lag far behind as a state when it comes to educational technology policy. Gov. Tim Walz made attempts to close the digital-access divide during the pandemic, but little was done to ensure those new devices were used effectively (as teachers and parents who weathered the pandemic can attest). Since ChatGPT was released to the public in 2022, our state government and the Legislature have done little to set a unifying vision for technology or AI in education, or to provide guidance and resources to implement that vision.
We should expect that our next governor, our next commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Education and our next state Legislature have informed, nuanced opinions about the issues involved and the political will to act. Thankfully, strong leadership exists at the local level. St. Cloud’s robust guidance to students, educators and families and Hopkins’ ”pedagogy over policing” approach stand out as regional exemplars.
These are collective opportunities and challenges that will take time to address, but we each play a role in solving them. Don’t spend another semester wishing someone else would do something about it. While the underlying issues may be difficult to identify (but easy to ignore), things will only get more complex. Just ask Claude how agentic AI or quantum computing will affect education.

Marshall Independent looks a local views on federal funding for local schools (E-Rate)

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The Marshall Independent reports…

Internet access has become a vital resource for public school districts and libraries. It’s something that goes beyond the classroom too, Marshall Public Schools staff said last week. Everything from communications and security systems to HVAC systems in schools also use internet connections.

“It’s not just about the internet. It’s the connectivity,” said MPS Director of Operations Tricia Stelter.

Education and technology workers said that’s a major reason why they’re concerned that the Federal Communications Commission is reviewing the federal E-Rate program, which gives schools discounts on internet service. Earlier this summer, the FCC said it will take comments on ways that the program can be updated – including whether it should be reformed or eliminated.

The article goes on to share comments from educators and others from Marshall and Lyons counties on their concerns about the future of the E-Rate program…

Sumption said about 32 school districts across southwest Minnesota, and most of the libraries in the Plum Creek regional library system, are affected by the E-Rate program. On average, they receive a total of about $2.24 million a year in E-Rate funding, he said.

Sumption said the E-Rate program has been “an equalizer” for schools and libraries around Minnesota.

“It’s just helped level the playing field, and gives everyone the chance to connect up,” he said.

Staff from both Marshall Public Schools and SWWC said E-Rate funding has a big impact on area schools.

U of M students create AI-generated butter busts at the MN State Fair

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Something fun for a Sunday, KARE 11 cover the AI-generated butter busts at the Minnesota State Fair…

For generations, Minnesota State Fair visitors have watched Princess Kay of the Milky Way and her court have their likenesses carved into butter. On Saturday, some fairgoers got the chance to see what they might look like in butter, too, with a little help from artificial intelligence.

The University of Minnesota’s Data Science and AI Hub offered visitors the chance to create 3D-printed plastic “butter busts” of themselves as part of an effort to get people talking about AI.

Unfortunately, it was a one-day only event, but what a great way to get people to talking to about AI with experts and experts-in-the-making.

A quick look at AI, business and training from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis

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The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis reports…

The number of businesses currently using AI shows there’s potentially many workers to be trained. But much of the training needed is likely to be basic because most businesses that use AI don’t appear to be doing very much with it.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 22 percent of U.S. businesses used AI as of the end of July 2026. That’s a 4 percentage point increase since the beginning of the year.

Around the Ninth District, the share of businesses currently using AI ranges from 14 percent in North Dakota to 22 percent in Montana (see figure).

It seems like there’s interest…

Business demand for AI training appears strong, though much of it appears to be from businesses that aren’t sure about how to use the technology.

“What we’ve seen so far is the [client] organization wants to equip their people to use AI, but they don’t necessarily have an enterprise-wide strategy yet,” said the University of Minnesota’s Jahnke. “So they’re wanting to equip their employees with the basic knowledge with particular emphasis on how to use it ethically and a basic understanding of how AI works.”

And it’s growing…

Demand for training in AI skills is likely to grow with businesses’ growing use of the technology.

Over the next six months, the share of U.S. businesses using AI is expected to increase by 3 percentage points compared with July, based on Census Bureau surveys.

Among most Ninth District states, the expected increase is about 2 percentage points. Montana and North Dakota expected a decrease due to a growing number who expressed doubt that they would still be using AI.

Despite the technology’s limited impact on employment so far, there is a simmering fear in the public that massive job losses are not far off. Experts disagree on whether this is realistic, and where they land depends on how much artificial intelligence they think can replace human intelligence, and how soon.

Ayush Chopra, who developed a simulation of AI impact on the labor market while a grad student at MIT, said he doesn’t expect a “job catastrophe.” The simulation found that, among states, South Dakota had the highest concentration of jobs exposed to AI disruption, such as those in finance. By “exposure” he means that those jobs contain more tasks where AI can enhance human labor, not replace it.

If AI can improve productivity, that’s not a bad thing for South Dakota given the labor shortage, according to Hultman. The state’s unemployment rate in June was 2 percent, the lowest in the nation.

Do workers actually use Artificial Intelligence on the job?

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KSTP 9 looks into the question: Do workers actually use Artificial Intelligence on the job? (Apparently only a third of workers have used it.)…

Minnesota Schools are looking at AI policies. Examples from Morrison, Stearns and Ramsey Counties

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Last week, I wrote about one Minnesota student’s role in helping to craft a national artificial intelligence policy for schools. This week, I see that a few schools have been busy, as KSTP reports on a few. In Royalton (Morrison County)…

On Monday, the Royalton school board approved a new AI policy for its students and staff.

“There’s probably three themes,” LePard said. “One is safety for staff and students, and how they use things with AI, student academics and staff instruction.”

He said teachers will be posting the guidelines in middle and high school classrooms.

He said they primarily fall into four quadrants.

“Anywhere from the continuum of no AI use to full AI use,” he explained. “And then somewhere in between there, whether it might be just brainstorming or it might be using it as a resource or a source in their schoolwork.”

Next week, he said, the district’s teachers and staff will begin reviewing the new policy.

Designed for students in middle and high school, Royalton’s new policy puts an emphasis on responsibility and transparency.

In St Cloud (Stearns County)…

“Our amazing superintendent was actually one of the first in Minnesota to … bring up an AI policy and to implement one in our school. So we kind of were the leaders of the line,” said Acho.

In St Paul (Ramsey County)…

Some schools, like the St. Paul district, are still working out their AI policy. St. Paul Public Schools told KSTP, “the Board of Education has created a goal for the district to adopt one by spring 2028. Here is the language of that goal:
“By the end of the 2027–2028 school year, the Board will adopt an Artificial Intelligence Governance Policy that addresses the safe, ethical, human-centered, equitable, environmentally responsible, and instructionally meaningful use of AI across teaching, learning, critical thinking, workforce readiness, accessibility, data privacy, academic integrity, staff support, and district operations. The policy will include expectations for public reporting on how SPPS is preparing students and staff to use, question, evaluate, and create with AI.”

In the meantime, SPPS says it has robust resources around responsible staff and student use of AI, available on its website.

Help for other districts…

Click here for the Minnesota Department of Education’s guiding principles for AI in the classroom.