| Abstract: |
Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing what it means to be future ready. This shift raises an urgent challenge in schools: how to give students meaningful, hands-on experience with tools that are already shaping the world around them and ensure they have the right skills for the jobs of the future. In response, the development of a new AI lab built around professional-grade hardware, strong partnerships, and a commitment to Powerful Learning and AI Literacy has emerged as a solution at Ypsilanti Community High School (YCHS). As the first HP AI Spotlight School, YCHS has become a space where students are using advanced tools like Microsoft Copilot, 3D modeling software, high-end audio-visual equipment, and hardware with higher processing power to design, create, and explore ideas that matter to them. The work is still early, but it's already revealing what's possible and where challenges may lie. From supervising open lab spaces to launching new game development courses, schools like Ypsilanti are navigating real challenges tied to staffing, scheduling, and sustainability. Still, their approach remains clear: put powerful tools in students' hands, support educators through ongoing professional learning, and build systems that can grow with the work. YCHS isn't just reacting to the rise of AI; it's helping shape how schools move forward. This paper captures that effort and offers a glimpse into what's next. Also included in this report is a follow-up to our June 2024 report on Anaheim High School, "Access to Powerful Technology as a Catalyst for Career Pathway Engagement." |