Funding will support the development of Sophia AI, CSC’s new AI-enabled tutor coach for math instruction
Washington, D.C., May 7, 2026 – CitySchools Collaborative (CSC) today announced it received a $50,000 grant from The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) to develop Sophia AI. The funding helps support Sophia AI’s pilot implementation with tutors serving students in DC and Virginia during the 2025-26 academic year.
Founded to catalyze high-impact tutoring and strategic staffing models, CitySchools Collaborative partners with schools, local government, and community organizations to scale research-backed, school-based interventions that serve thousands of students—accelerating learning, improving well-being, and strengthening flexible staffing systems.
The funding from GTIA helps CSC provide real-time coaching for tutors for stronger math instruction. Powered by generative AI and rooted in CSC’s high-quality math curriculum, Sophia AI strengthens teaching, improves lesson preparation, and deepens content knowledge to help students succeed in math, where proficiency nationwide remains far too low.
“GTIA’s support has helped us put Sophia AI at the fingertips of tutors across DC, giving the people working closest with our students real-time coaching tools to be excellent math instructors. We’re grateful to GTIA for investing in technology designed to strengthen the people doing the work,” said Cat Peretti, Executive Director of CitySchools Collaborative.
CitySchools Collaborative is one of 45 nonprofit organizations worldwide to receive a GTIA grant as a part of the association’s $1.91 million in total charitable giving in 2025. GTIA’s charitable investment reinforces the association’s commitment to advancing access, equity, education, workforce development, and technology-driven innovation. GTIA has recently announced it is expanding its charitable giving to $5M in 2026.
Through a significantly expanded philanthropic portfolio, GTIA directed funding and resources to organizations such as CitySchools Collaborative who are creating measurable social impact across education, healthcare, workforce readiness and community development.
“Philanthropy has long been central to GTIA’s mission,” said Kelly Ricker, Chief Operating Officer of GTIA. “In 2025, our members helped us take decisive steps to scale our impact – investing in organizations that use technology to expand opportunities, promote equity and create lasting change. Every advancement we make in our giving programs is driven by the commitment and shared purpose of our member community. Their leadership ensures that innovation truly benefits communities worldwide.”
GTIA funding support was critical to bring Sophia AI from concept to classroom. Sophia AI is completing its first pilot during the 2025–2026 school year with tutors from EduTutorVA and Raising a Village Foundation. With early findings showing measurable improvements in tutor confidence and instructional quality, CSC aims to expand Sophia’s reach and impact—supporting more tutors and driving stronger math outcomes for students across the region.
For more information visit cityschoolscollab.org/sophia-ai.
###
About CitySchools Collaborative
CitySchools Collaborative catalyzes high-impact tutoring and strategic talent models to serve thousands of students. Its coalition-building approach and innovative solutions improve student well-being, accelerate academic performance, and enhance flexible staffing systems in schools to help create a public education system that serves and empowers all children. To learn more about CitySchools Collaborative, visit cityschoolscollab.org.
About the Global Technology Industry Association
The Global Technology Industry Association (GTIA) is the only vendor-neutral, 501(c)(6) nonprofit membership community connecting and representing the worldwide IT channel. We set our members up for success by providing benefits that include trusted resources and networking opportunities. In addition, the association sets industry standards that enable companies to build sustainable, secure and profitable businesses in an ever-changing technology landscape. Internationally, GTIA represents hundreds of thousands of professionals from more than 2,400 ITSPs, vendors, distributors and other companies serving the IT channel. GTIA was formerly known as the CompTIA Community (the membership arm of CompTIA). For more information, visit gtia.org.