North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) launched a free recurring public webinar series for educators on AI tools and responsible classroom integration. Sessions run approximately two to three times per month throughout the 2025-2026 school year, covering topics including AI tools for lesson design (e.g., MagicSchool AI), professional learning with AI, and AI literacy strategies for English teachers. Sessions confirmed through at least May 27, 2026 are freely accessible to all NC educators and school staff.
The webinar series is a concrete delivery mechanism emerging from Executive Order No. 24 (September 2025), which created the NC AI Leadership Council and directed DPI to support educator professional development in AI. The Council itself became operationally active with approximately 30 public and private sector experts, whose mission includes making North Carolina “the most AI-literate state in the nation.”
Who it affects: All North Carolina public school educators statewide — attendance is voluntary but the series is free and publicly accessible, removing cost barriers. The ongoing cadence (2-3 sessions/month) represents consistent institutional investment in AI teacher capacity-building.
What is notably missing: Participation is voluntary; there is no mandate requiring teachers to attend. The webinars do not constitute a certified professional development requirement or count toward licensing renewal. No funding has been specifically appropriated for this initiative separate from existing DPI operating budgets.