Thursday, October 1, 2026
North Central Washington is emerging as a rising leader in AI readiness and workforce innovation and three new Microsoft grant awards will soon expand artificial intelligence skills and real‑world learning opportunities for young people across the region.
The awards support initiatives proposed by the Manson School District, Quincy School District, and NCW Tech Alliance. Notably, Manson and Quincy are two of only ten school districts selected statewide for targeted Microsoft Elevate investments, placing rural North Central Washington among a small group of education leaders recognized for readiness, leadership, and capacity to advance AI innovation.
Together, these investments represent more than individual projects. They reflect a strategic commitment to building local capacity so communities can leverage and benefit from AI in ways that strengthen regional industries and long-term economic resilience.
Microsoft Elevate Washington is part of the company’s broader effort to ensure the state remains globally competitive as AI reshapes how work is done. The initiative offers universal access to advanced AI tools for every public school district and community and technical college statewide, while also making deeper, relationship-driven investments in districts and partners positioned to pilot, refine, and scale new approaches.
Manson School District plans to use its Elevate award to build two AI learning tracks aligned with its Portrait of a Learner and mission of continuous student learning. All students will gain foundational AI literacy focused on safe, ethical, and responsible use. A second track will provide more intensive preparation for students interested in pursuing AI-related career pathways.
Manson’s learner vision emphasizes student leadership, communication, responsibility, confidence, self-management, and community contribution. The district has long prioritized future-ready, real-world skill development through hands-on learning, financial literacy, and leadership experiences. Integrating AI literacy into this framework reinforces a learner profile focused on problem-solving, collaboration, adaptability, and readiness for life beyond school.
“Manson School District is proud and honored to partner with Microsoft through the Elevate Grant to build an AI pathway that develops critical thinkers, ethical decision-makers, and adaptable learners who use artificial intelligence safely, responsibly, and with purpose.” said Superintendent Tabatha Mires.
Quincy School District will use its Elevate grant to design and implement a K–12 AI Literacy Framework aligned with its Profile of a Graduate. The investment builds on more than a decade of work in instructional technology, computer science pathways, and districtwide systems that support innovation at scale.
Rather than approaching AI literacy as a trend, Quincy is taking a proactive, long-term view. The district’s framework will define what AI readiness looks like at each grade level, strengthen media literacy and critical thinking, and ensure that students learn to apply AI in ways that reflect human-centered skills such as collaboration, creativity, and ethical decision-making.
The work positions Quincy to move from early experimentation to a coherent, districtwide approach that supports educators with clear expectations, shared language, and aligned professional learning. Over time, the district intends to share its framework, tools, and implementation metrics with neighboring districts, creating a scalable model for responsible AI integration across the region.
“The Quincy School District is excited and honored to be selected for the Microsoft Elevate Grant,” said Superintendent Dr. Nik Bergman. “This investment allows us to build a thoughtful, districtwide approach to AI literacy that prepares students and staff for the future of learning and work.”
Complementing the school-based investments, NCW Tech Alliance received grant funding to launch the AI Innovation Corps, a youth workforce program that pairs high school students with small businesses to explore AI adoption.
NCW Tech Alliance hopes this program cultivates innovation as young people are given opportunities to apply their skills to real problems. The AI Innovation Corps reflects this approach by connecting students with small businesses to explore practical uses of AI. Through hands-on project work, students build AI literacy and professional skills, while businesses gain insight into how emerging tools can support productivity and competitiveness. By piloting this model in north-central Washington communities, NCW Tech Alliance also hopes to demonstrate that local talent development and industry adoption can advance together.
Together, these grants illustrate the relational approach to economic and workforce development that Microsoft is taking in the region. Rather than transactional investments, they focus on building trust, skills, and infrastructure over time. They recognize that AI readiness depends not only on access to tools, but on educators, students, and employers learning and adapting together.
For a region anchored by established industry in agriculture, energy, healthcare, and manufacturing, the ability to understand and apply AI will increasingly shape competitiveness. By investing simultaneously in schools, workforce pathways, and regional partners, Microsoft Elevate is helping ensure North Central Washington isn't simply responding to technology changes, but is actively shaping its role in the next chapter of innovation.
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