Wake County Schools staff outline Lighthouse Math pilot in S.B. 579, including Khan Academy AI and Wake Tech dual‑enrollment

Wake County Public School System staff presented an overview of the Lighthouse Math Project — created under Senate Bill 579 — at a work session, describing a pilot that would pair Wake County schools with Wake Tech Community College and Khan Academy to expand math readiness and dual‑enrollment at two high schools.

The presentation said the pilot centers on East Wake High School and Knightdale High School and would provide students access to Khan Academy’s AI tutoring tool (Khanmigo) plus dual‑enrolled coursework through Wake Tech. “We are optimistic based on the information and updates that we're receiving, to hear back by June about this potentially moving forward,” presenter Mister Cook said during the session.

District staff described the Lighthouse Math Project as aimed at increasing the number of high school graduates who are eligible for college‑level math by expanding access to high‑impact learning opportunities. “The Lighthouse Math Project is a powerful example of how we are advancing our district's strategic priorities through innovative partnerships and technology driven solutions,” Dr. Kendra King said, describing the initiative’s goals to use personalized AI tutoring and performance data to guide instruction and reduce barriers to STEM pathways.

Staff said the version of S.B. 579 under discussion contains a funding component for the Lighthouse project and that, as drafted, the Lighthouse portion is for $1,500,000 annually. According to the presentation, the bill draft allocates about $500,000 to the school system and about $1,000,000 to the community college system to fund positions at the two participating high schools to support program implementation. District staff cautioned that the bill and budget language remain in the legislative process and that the figures could change as lawmakers consider the measure.

Presenters described a multi‑step timeline: planning, curriculum alignment and project design in summer 2025; educator training, family engagement and systems set‑up in fall/winter 2025; enrollment and logistics finalized in spring 2026; and a planned program launch in the 2026–27 school year with ongoing monitoring and midyear reviews. Staff said Wake Tech East’s proximity to the two pilot schools factored into site selection and that the district and Wake Tech had already begun planning conversations.

Board members asked about cost, sustainability and potential conflicts of interest related to Khan Academy. Staff said they did not anticipate conflicts of interest; they described Khan Academy as a publicly accessible education provider and said the district was still clarifying how the AI tool and vendor supports would be used in practice. Staff also said the project is intended to leverage shared resources so the pilot could be sustained without adding permanent district staff beyond the positions funded through the community college allocation.

No formal board action was taken; staff said they will keep the board and participating schools updated as the bill and budget move through the legislative process.

The board’s next planning steps include follow‑up as legislative developments occur and further local planning with Wake Tech and participating schools.