Illinois AI Challenge

The future of AI in Illinois starts with today's students

Calling all problem solvers! The  AI Illinois Challenge is a  statewide competition for students in grades 6–12, designed to put your creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking to the test. Teams of up to four students, guided by a teacher sponsor, will take on one of two tracks to design AI-based solutions—or detailed proposals—that address real challenges in their communities.

We’re inviting you to harness the power of artificial intelligence to imagine new possibilities, solve authentic problems, and share your vision for how AI can make a positive impact on the world around you.

This challenge is your chance to:

  • Amplify your voice and showcase your ideas
  • Build future-ready skills like problem-solving, collaboration, and responsible AI use
  • Align your project with the new Presidential SI Challenge for an even bigger stage to shine

Whether you’re already an AI enthusiast or just curious to explore, this project-based competition is the perfect opportunity to turn ideas into action and demonstrate how Illinois students are leading the way in safe, ethical, and innovative AI.

Share Interest or Sign Up (opens in a new tab)Challenge Overview (opens in a new tab)2027 Challenge Brief (opens in a new tab)

Questions?

Contact our team for answers.
Matt Sherrill
Dr. Sarah Phelps, (618) 402-5475
Staff Directory

Choose your Track

Select a challenge track that align’s with your project vision

Student Track

Teams create an AI (SI) technology solution (proposal or prototype) that can make a positive impact on themselves, classmates, families, or community.

Teacher Track

Demonstrate integrating AI (SI) technologies into their classrooms or schools by either teaching students about using or creating AI (SI) technologies or creating new AI (SI) technologies that will transform their administrative workflows or policies.

Team Composition

  • Student Track: Grades 6–12; up to 4 students plus 1 adult coach.
  • Teacher Track (new this year!): 1–3 teachers.

Project Overview

This year’s Presidential Challenge uses the term Super Intelligence (SI). For AI Illinois Challenge submissions, students and teachers may use either term.

  • Student Teams: Create an AI technology solution (proposal or prototype) that can make a positive impact on themselves, classmates, families, or community.*
  • Teacher Teams (choose one approach):
    • Teach an AI (SI) Concept: Create a video or other digital demonstration that shares an innovative approach to teaching an AI (SI) concept or tool to K–12 students.
    • Transformative Teaching: Create a video or digital demonstration that shares how you create, modify, or use an AI tool or technology to build transformative teaching and learning experiences.

*The Presidential SI Challenge has two student tracks, Standard and Trailblazer. Trailblazer projects create new or unique AI (SI) technologies that address a national challenge or provide an opportunity that could impact the whole nation.

Requirements

  • Submit one PDF (no more than 10 pages, or 11 with a title page; ≤ 30 MB; 12-point font or larger) that includes a team-written narrative (500+ words), pitch deck slides, a certification of originality, and a link to a video (4 minutes max).
  • Links in your PDF must not require a password and must stay available until winners are announced.
  • Use only free, school-provided, or LTC-provided tools. No personal purchases of software or tools.
  • Illinois school districts should ensure SOPPA compliance for any tools students use during project development.

Scoring

  • The AI Illinois Challenge is aligned with the scoring from the Presidential SI Challenge Rubric to simplify submission for those who wish to submit to the national challenge.

State Champion Recognition

  • Certificates of participation
  • Feature on the LTC website and social media
  • Guest LTC blog post outlining the winning AI design
  • AI Challenge panel during HiAI! (virtual conference, Jan. 14–15)
  • AI Illinois Challenge prize pack for all members of the winning teams
  • $100 Amazon gift card to each member of each winning team: up to 4 students and 1 teacher (MS/HS team) or 3 teachers (teacher team)

*Reminder: Illinois is not affiliated with the Presidential SI Challenge, so winning the AI Illinois Challenge does NOT equate to winning the state level for the Presidential SI Challenge.

All participants receive:

  • Coach’s Toolkit with scoring guides, guiding questions, AI resources, and pitch deck templates
  • Virtual Professional Learning Sessions to support and equip you and your students through the challenge and build AI literacy. These sessions are optional and open to all educators (see “Upcoming Events”).
  • Office Hours on Zoom (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, and Dec. 14) for individualized support

How to Register

  • Submit the online interest form by Oct. 30, 2026
  • Receive an acceptance email with coaching links and access to the resource folder
  • Collect parental consent and media release forms (links provided after registration) by Nov. 13, 2026
  • Project packets due Dec. 18, 2026

Benefits of Participation

  • Enhance transferable skills such as problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, adaptability, empathy, learner’s mindset, and personal responsibility
  • Increase AI literacy to prepare for an AI-enabled job market
  • Receive expert feedback from educators and EdTech mentors
  • Connect with a professional network of peers and innovators
  • Gain pathways to state and national recognition, and potential monetary awards
  • Explore how to use AI to create transformative teaching and learning

Got Questions?

Email events@ltcillinois.org or join office hours on Zoom.

A special thank you to our partners at the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction for sharing their AI Solve-a-Thon work and resources with us!

Sept. 7, 2026 | AI Illinois Challenge Interest Form opens (Coaches indicate interest to participate)

Oct. 19, 2026, 3:30–4:30 pm | PD Session 1: Finding the Real Problem: A Student & Educator’s Guide to Human-Centered AI (Register)

Oct. 26, 2026, 3:30–4:30 pm | PD Session 2: Building AI Literacy: Smart Prompting, Safe Data, and Better Results (Register)

Oct. 30, 2026 | AI Illinois Challenge Interest Form closes at 5:00 pm

Nov. 2, 2026, 3:30–4:30 pm | PD Session 3: The AI Toolbox: Creating, Designing, and Prototyping Your Challenge Project (Register)

Nov. 9, 2026, 3:30–4:30 pm | PD Session 4: Closing the Loop: Human-Centered Feedback, Accessibility, and Final Polish (Register)

Nov. 13, 2026 | AI Illinois Challenge Team Information Form due (Coaches submit the idea, team member names, and a media release form for each participant)

Nov. 30, Dec. 7 & Dec. 14, 2026, 3:30–4:30 pm | AI Illinois Challenge Office Hours on Zoom, no registration needed (Join Here)

Dec. 18, 2026 | AI Illinois Challenge project submission due for state competition

Jan. 8, 2027 | AI Illinois Challenge project scoring provided to participating teams; IL winner announced!