Welcome to Playground Post, a bi-weekly newsletter that keeps education innovators ahead of what’s next.

Here’s what we have on deck for today…

1. Arizona students get two hour AI school day

2. Nine foundations unlock child care with CHIPS Act

3. Students stick with the same teachers for four years

Arizona students get two hour AI school day

Arizona's State Board for Charter Schools approved Unbound Academy, where AI platforms will deliver core subjects in just two hours daily.

The online charter school uses tools like IXL and Khan Academy to adapt lessons to each 4th-8th grade student's pace.

• "Skilled guides" — rather than traditional teachers — monitor progress and provide coaching

• Students spend the rest of their day in workshops on practical skills like public speaking and financial literacy

The model raises questions about staffing and scheduling. With Arizona's approval, other states may consider similar programs that reduce direct instruction time while maintaining learning outcomes.

Nine foundations unlock child care with CHIPS Act

A new $9.6M child care fund shows how nonprofits can amplify government initiatives. Nine foundations, led by Packard and Kresge, are leveraging a CHIPS Act requirement that manufacturers provide worker child care.

They're piloting programs in four states by connecting manufacturers, child care providers, and community banks.

"This isn't just about manufacturing expansion," says Katie Beckmann from Packard Foundation. "It's about unlocking new funding streams for child care."

For nonprofits, the model demonstrates how to turn policy requirements into partnership opportunities that multiply impact.

Students stick with the same teachers for four years

Pennsylvania's Avonworth Elementary divided its 600 students into 11 groups that stay together from grades 3-6. Each group has three to four dedicated staff members who build relationships with students through monthly assemblies and team activities.

The result? Higher attendance rates, fewer disciplinary issues, and better academic outcomes.

"We want to try to go for a deeper, more meaningful connection with the kids," says Principal Bill Battistone.

His advice for other schools? Dedicate staff time to creating materials so teachers don't see it as extra work.

For education innovators: As more schools experiment with multi-year student groupings, there may be growing demand for tools that help manage long-term student-teacher relationships and streamline the creation of connection-building activities.

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