Stratford Students Selected To Help Shape National K-12 AI Policy

STRATFORD, CT — Two Stratford Public Schools students have been selected to help shape the national conversation of how artificial intelligence should be used in education at a summit this summer in Boston.

Stratford students Anthony Darbilli and Bena Mejia Romero have been selected to represent Connecticut at the 2026 Day of AI & AASA Leadership Fellowship and America’s Youth AI Festival in Boston this July. They will be joined by Stratford Superintendent of Schools Heather M. Borges.

At the festival, students from across the country will help shape a model national AI policy for K-12 schools.

The national initiative — led in partnership with MIT RAISE, Day of AI, and AASA — was recently highlighted in Education Week and will bring together student leaders and superintendents from across the nation to explore ethical AI integration, student voice, and the future of education, according to Borges.

Borges said Stratford Public Schools has “intentionally developed responsible AI practices and student-centered innovation work, and we are incredibly proud to see our students helping lead this conversation on a national stage.”

America’s Youth AI Festival will take place from July 17—19 in Boston and Cambridge.

During the event, student delegates will convene as national “Student AI Senators” at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute, where they will debate and help create a new national student-centered AI policy for K-12 public schools, according to a news release.

“Education leaders will engage with leading researchers and practitioners to explore how AI is being used in innovative school systems across the country,” the news release states. “Following the Festival, AASA will share the new National AI Policy with 10,000 school leaders across the U.S.”

“Artificial intelligence is not just a technological shift—it is a transformational moment for education,” Borges said. “This experience allows our students to lead, not follow, in shaping how AI is used ethically and responsibly in our schools. I am proud that Stratford Public Schools is elevating student voice on a national stage as we prepare learners for a future we are actively building together.”

Read more from the news release below:

Born out of MIT RAISE in 2021, Day of AI is an independent nonprofit that works closely with MIT researchers to help K-12 students, families, and educators thrive in the age of artificial intelligence. Day of AI has reached nearly 4 million students in more than 170 countries since its inception. Day of AI research shows that 97.6% of participants reported a stronger understanding of how AI works after using the Day of AI curriculum, while well over 90% said they left with a better understanding of both the benefits and risks of AI for people and society.

“Connecticut is helping lead an important national conversation about the future of AI in education,” said Jeffrey Riley, Executive Director of Day of AI and former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education. “America’s Youth AI Festival is designed to elevate student voice and educational leadership at a moment when AI is reshaping schools and society. We’re proud to welcome Superintendent Borges, Bena, and Anthony this July.”

Launched by AASA in partnership with Day of AI and MIT RAISE, the 2026 Leadership and Innovation Fellowship will bring together 50 superintendents and 100 high-school student leaders from every state across the country for an immersive experience focused on ethical AI use, systems-level leadership, policy, and the future of teaching and learning. The Fellowship and Student AI Senate will be central components of America’s Youth AI Festival, Day of AI’s broader national gathering of students, educators, researchers, policymakers, and civic leaders.

This opportunity reflects Stratford Public Schools’ ongoing commitment to preparing students for a future shaped by innovation, critical thinking, and responsible use of emerging technologies.

All travel, lodging, and meals for participating leaders and student delegates will be fully covered by philanthropic supporters of this program. Additional announcements will be made in the coming weeks as momentum builds toward America’s Youth AI Festival and AASA’s 2026 Leadership and Innovation Fellowship.

For more information about the initiative, visit here.