Textbook publisher gives Copilot access to its educational content

U.S. education publisher McGraw Hill announced a plugin for Microsoft 365 Copilot on October 29, 2026. A plugin is an add-on that extends an application with new features. In this case, it is meant to provide access to the publisher's teaching materials while users work in Copilot.

The plugin covers content for K-12, higher education and professional learning. It is built on Model Context Protocol (MCP), a standard that connects AI tools with external content sources and systems.

What can it be used for?

Users can summarize, translate and adapt licensed course materials. They can also create additional resources, study aids and lesson plans. According to McGraw Hill, these are based on the company's pedagogy.

The plugin is described as agentic. Roughly speaking, that means the AI can carry out tasks for the user rather than just answer questions.

Who can get it?

Access requires both a McGraw Hill customer license and access to the enterprise edition of Microsoft 365 Copilot. The target audience is educators and students at McGraw Hill's customers among higher education institutions and school districts. An ordinary user cannot simply download it on their own.

A limited beta, in other words an early trial version, is planned for early 2027.

The publisher's motives

McGraw Hill says the partnership makes it possible to enter new channels while the company retains control over the use and value of its content. Dave Cortese, Chief Digital Information Officer at McGraw Hill, says in the press release that AI is a new growth opportunity that can bring the publisher's trusted content to more people in more ways.

Deirdre Quarnstrom, VP for Microsoft Education Experiences, says in the press release that McGraw Hill's strengths in Copilot can help educators create more relevant learning experiences.

The plugin is part of the publisher's broader push into agentic AI, which complements tools such as AI Reader and Writing Assistant. McGraw Hill has also recently acquired TeachFX and Teachally, which strengthen the company's AI-based education tools.

The information comes from McGraw Hill's own press release. The sources do not say what the plugin costs, how many people will get access, or which countries it applies to.