Section
Education
School districts writing AI rules, teachers changing how they assign and grade work, and the colleges and universities training the Valley's next workforce.
State of play
Updated Thursday, November 5, 2026. An AI-written summary of the articles it cites. How we report
- Fresno County districts are introducing AI cautiously. Fresno Unified has used Microsoft Copilot for grammar feedback and gives it to high schoolers while blocking public AI on student Wi-Fi; Clovis Unified is training teachers, and Selma Unified started with staff before students. ABC30 asks how Fresno parents should set AI rules at home · Fresno County districts test AI with guardrails, from Copilot to teacher training
- Fresno State reports 7 AI courses, 14 AI-applied courses, an AI minor and two certificates, with more than 300 faculty in AI workshops. Instructors are bringing back oral exams, blue books and in-class writing, and a general-education AI literacy push is planned. CSU Fresno faculty fold AI into classes, bring back oral exams and blue books
- CSU Bakersfield showed off Rio, a student-assisted campus assistant that answers only from department-approved information, at NextTech Kern on Oct. 28. Its tech chief said entry-level employers now expect basic AI skills. CSU Bakersfield puts student-built AI assistant Rio on display at NextTech Kern
- In Kern County, Bakersfield City School District has an AI guidebook and board policy, and Kern High School District offers AI guides for teachers, parents and students. Local TV in Bakersfield and Fresno has been asking parents how kids should use AI at home. ABC30 asks how Fresno parents should set AI rules at home · BakersfieldNow asks parents if they’re OK with AI ‘friend’ for kids
Latest in Education
CSU Bakersfield puts student-built AI assistant Rio on display at NextTech Kern
Oct 30, 2026
At Wednesday's NextTech Kern conference, CSUB's tech chief said entry-level employers now expect basic AI skills, and a political science professor explained how he keeps students in control.
ABC30 asks how Fresno parents should set AI rules at home
Oct 25, 2026
A KFSN segment points to new Verizon research and practical advice on setting family rules for kids using AI, alongside Fresno Unified’s current guardrails.
CSU Fresno faculty fold AI into classes, bring back oral exams and blue books
Oct 22, 2026
Faculty at CSU Fresno are adding AI across departments while stressing limits, reworking assignments, and planning GE AI literacy. Workshops have drawn 300+ instructors and new social-impact courses are in the queue.
Fresno County districts test AI with guardrails, from Copilot to teacher training
Oct 10, 2026
Fresno Unified, Clovis Unified, Selma Unified and Sanger Unified outline early AI use in classrooms. Leaders say the goal is support, not shortcuts.
BakersfieldNow asks parents if they’re OK with AI ‘friend’ for kids
Sep 16, 2026
KBAK/KBFX posted a one-question poll asking if parents are comfortable with their child using AI as a friend, as local districts roll out AI guidance.
Hanford High ag students learn AI as Fresno State supercomputer goes live
Sep 10, 2026
Hanford High’s honors ag class is using AI for real projects while Reedley College and Fresno State plug local growers into new computing power.
Fresno Unified posts AI rules as Fresno County schools weigh classroom use
Sep 1, 2026
Fresno Unified published staff guidance on classroom AI, while a county workshop highlighted teacher experiments and Fresno State’s detection pilot.
CSU Bakersfield students train in Korea on AI water 'digital twin'
Aug 4, 2026
K-water is teaching CSUB a credit-bearing course on AI water modeling, with plans to expand the partnership in 2027.
CSU Fresno, Fresno City College align AI-cyber pathways, $1M state grant
Jul 17, 2026
At a CSU Fresno event, Central Valley colleges and employers mapped coordinated courses and hiring ties in cybersecurity and AI, backed by new state funding.
Fresno State adds AI minor open to all majors this fall
Jul 9, 2026
CSU Fresno will offer a 20–21 unit artificial intelligence minor open to students in any major, with four required courses and one elective.
Fresno State, Fresno City College offer free summer AI workshops
Jun 3, 2026
Two five-hour sessions on June 6 and July 11 will teach practical AI prompting. Open to the public, sponsored by Granville Homes, and co-led by faculty with student tutors.
CSUB partners with OpenAI Academy on 'SPARKS,' billed first in the nation
May 31, 2026
CSU Bakersfield will launch SPARKS this fall, a service-learning pilot that puts AI tools in upper-division GE classes and pairs students with Kern County nonprofits.