For decades, the Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) has partnered with IUSD to expand educational opportunities for students through programs, grants, and community support that enrich learning both inside and outside the classroom. From providing classroom resources and after-school enrichment opportunities to supporting innovative instructional programs, IPSF continues to play a vital role.
Because IUSD is one of the highest-performing yet lowest-funded school districts in the state and nation, partnerships and community support, such as IPSF’s, are critical to sustaining and expanding programs that prepare students for success in college, career, and life. IPSF’s contributions and programs make a critical difference where it matters most – in the classroom.
Examples of IPSF’s impact can be seen throughout our district at all grade levels, including programs such as the Innovative Grants. This incredible program empowers IUSD teachers and staff to dream big and develop creative approaches to teaching, to engage and inspire students. IPSF-funded projects have supported initiatives that promote music and the arts, encourage literacy and positive student engagement, and create hands-on learning opportunities in science, sustainability, and wellness through interactive campus spaces and programs.
Most recently, IPSF awarded IUSD a $200,000 Innovation Grant to support the District’s nationally recognized work in artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The grant will help fund AI platforms for IUSD students, including Google Gemini, Snorkl, and MagicSchool, to enhance teaching and learning, strengthen college and career readiness, and support personalized instruction.
IUSD is committed to using educational tools intentionally and responsibly. The District’s approach centers on a model where technology supports learning and people are always at the heart of teaching and learning. The District uses Google Gemini, Snorkl, and MagicSchool to amplify our students’ creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving, while ensuring equitable access, ethical use, and strong collaboration with our families.
IPSF recently highlighted this work during its Spring Soirée, a Leaders in Education event that brought together IPSF Champions and President’s Circle members for an evening focused on the future of AI. The event featured a panel discussion with experts from Irvine Unified School District, Google, Hoag, the University of California, Irvine, and the Orange County Department of Education exploring AI in education and in the corporate sector.
Panelists discussed how AI has the potential to enhance learning when used purposefully and ethically and how it can prepare students for emerging career opportunities and equip educators with innovative tools that create more time for meaningful student support and engagement. The discussion inspired important conversations about innovation, responsibility, and the evolving skills students will need to thrive in the future.
To learn more about AI in IUSD, visit iusd.org/AI. For more information about IPSF, visit ipsf.net.