911±¬ÁÏ

Education leaders across Northern Virginia gathered at 911±¬ÁÏ to tackle a pressing question: how to prepare students to use AI responsibly.

When Raihan Mahmood joined 911±¬ÁÏ’s Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy, he was looking for more than a traditional high school experience. Drawn to the opportunity to earn college credit, collaborate with industry professionals, and engage in authentic learning experiences, Mahmood quickly found himself making a real difference.

In its first year, 911±¬ÁÏ’s Accelerated College and Employability Skills (ACCESS) Academy is already demonstrating strong indicators of demand, academic rigor, and early student achievement. Interest in the program has grown rapidly. For the 2026-27 admissions cycle, ACCESS received 387 applications from ninth graders, nearly double the 193 applications submitted the previous year.

Through the Educational Research Alliance of Northern Virginia, a research and practice partnership that connects 911±¬ÁÏ faculty with K–12 and state leaders, the College of Education and Human Development is convening some of the region’s most forward-thinking voices to define what readiness for AI in education truly means.

An open house at Fuse at Mason Square offered an exciting glimpse into the future for 911±¬ÁÏ’s ACCESS Academy, complete with robotics demonstrations and hands-on technology experiences. Behind the buzz and energy was a deeper message: Through a collaborative partnership with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), ACCESS Academy freshmen will take their first college course this spring, an opportunity rarely available to ninth-grade students.