January 23, 2026
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a future concept; it is a present-day reality reshaping classrooms, workplaces, and entire industries. At CTECS, where our mission is to prepare students for Connecticut’s evolving workforce, we recognized early that AI would fundamentally change how students learn and how employers operate. Nearly three years ago, CTECS became the first district in Connecticut to adopt a formal, proactive student AI use policy. Rather than banning AI, we integrate it into instruction to enhance learning, critical thinking, and access for grade 9-12 and adult learners.
Today, AI is embedded across academic and technical instruction. Teachers use approved platforms such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and Google Gemini, to support lesson planning, differentiated instruction, and assessment design. The impact is especially visible in our high-tech career clusters, including information technology, robotics, graphics, and digital media. These programs are continually updated to reflect real workforce conditions. Employers partnering with CTECS consistently reinforce the same message: AI and machine learning are now core workplace skills.
To stay ahead, CTECS is launching pilot AI labs at two campuses this year and building partnerships with higher education, including the University of Bridgeport. Students are already experimenting with AI agents, automation, and applied machine learning in ways that mirror real-world applications.
CTECS’ approach to AI reflects Connecticut’s broader economic priorities: preparing a skilled workforce, supporting employers, and ensuring students graduate with relevant and adaptable skills.