Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) has announced a new collaboration with Schoolhouse.world, an educational nonprofit founded by Sal Khan of Khan Academy fame. This initiative is set to redefine educational access by creating new opportunities for both CMU students and a global community of learners.
Announced during Sal Khan’s address as the 127th Commencement keynote speaker at Carnegie Mellon on May 11, the partnership seeks to widen access to CMU and provide practical tutoring experiences for its students through the Schoolhouse.world platform. This collaboration reflects a shared commitment to expanding educational opportunities.
CMU President Farnam Jahanian emphasized the importance of this partnership, stating, “Carnegie Mellon University is deeply committed to fostering access and opportunity, and we also applaud Sal Khan’s record of creating innovative and high-quality educational experiences that are broadly available to learners around the world, including Khan Academy and Schoolhouse.world.” He added that the collaboration aims to unite both institutions in their common goal to democratize learning.
Schoolhouse.world, similar to Khan Academy, provides free educational resources globally, focusing on high school-level subjects such as algebra, calculus, and computer science. It aims to create tutoring opportunities for learners worldwide, enhancing its mission to expand accessible education.
Sal Khan, who also received an honorary degree at CMU’s Commencement, remarked, “This partnership represents a breakthrough in how we think about service, education and impact.” He noted that the collaboration allows college students to earn course credit while volunteering as STEM tutors, thus recognizing tutoring’s academic value and expanding access to free learning globally.
The partnership introduces several innovative educational pathways. CMU will now consider a Schoolhouse portfolio—which includes tutoring certifications and volunteer hours—as part of its undergraduate admissions process. This new approach allows applicants to showcase subject mastery and their commitment to peer learning and community service.
Moreover, students certified through Schoolhouse.world can take placement exams in foundational STEM subjects at CMU, potentially advancing to higher-level courses. In the future, these certifications might even translate into CMU credit.
CMU students will also have the opportunity to enroll in a new for-credit course titled “Tutoring, Teaching and Leading Through Education,” launching in the 2025-26 academic year. This course, initially focusing on mathematics, will provide students with hands-on tutoring experience on the Schoolhouse.world platform while exploring the impact of mentoring and peer instruction on learning.
James H. Garrett Jr., CMU provost and chief academic officer, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “Carnegie Mellon has a longstanding commitment to advancing equitable access to education. I am thrilled about our partnership with Schoolhouse.world, which represents a significant opportunity to enrich the educational experience of both our outstanding students and future scholars.”
This collaboration marks another step in Carnegie Mellon’s ongoing efforts to promote access, opportunity, and affordability in education, building on its distinguished legacy in learning science and learning engineering. The university believes that technology is a powerful tool to enhance learning outcomes.
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