UMN’s DSAI and ELAI Lead High-Impact AI Roundtables at 2026 MSBA Conference

MINNEAPOLIS — At the Minneapolis Convention Center earlier this year, the conversation around the future of Minnesota classrooms took a high-tech turn.

During the Minnesota School Boards Association (MSBA) 2026 Leadership Conference, the Data Science and AI Hub (DSAI) and the Educator Leadership & AI (ELAI) project from the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Minnesota teamed up to host a series of pivotal discussions for the state’s educational leaders.

Meeting the Moment in the Roundtable

Strategically held during the conference’s designated Roundtable Sessions, the presentation—“Navigating the AI Frontier in Education”—served as a collaborative hub for over 100 school board members and superintendents.

To maximize the impact of and engagement with the session, UMN faculty and staff provided a "menu" of discussion options. Participants voted on the most pressing issues, transforming the roundtable into a focused working group on:

• Building Shared Understanding: Defining what AI literacy looks like for Minnesota boards.
• Navigating Challenges: Addressing the ethical, privacy, and policy implications of generative AI.
• Actionable Next Steps: Providing districts with a roadmap for implementation rather than just a theory.

A Growing Partnership for Minnesota Schools

The standing-room-only turnout across two sessions highlighted a significant appetite for AI guidance among school leadership. For many attendees, the session was a first step toward a long-term relationship with the University. Participants left with direct contact information for UMN experts, ensuring that the dialogue started at the Convention Center continues in district offices across the state.

Following the success of these sessions, the DSAI and ELAI teams are already looking toward the future. The high level of engagement suggests that school board members are a "ripe audience" for deeper, more intensive support as they steer their districts through the AI frontier.