AI-Powered Schools Open Without Traditional Teachers
Alpha School, a network of AI-based private schools, is opening a K-8 campus in Chicago's Loop this fall with a model that replaces credentialed teachers with non-credentialed "guides" and delivers core subjects through adaptive software. The school charges $55,000 annually and has expanded to nearly two dozen locations across the U.S. since launching in Austin, Texas, in 2014.
The curriculum condenses core instruction into two hours daily. Students spend the remainder of the day in workshops-building robots, scaling obstacle courses, and pursuing individual learning goals. Founder MacKenzie Price says the approach personalizes learning and allows students to achieve mastery faster than traditional classrooms.
Alpha touts that its students score in the 99th percentile on the Northwest Evaluation Association MAP Growth tests. The Chicago campus expects to enroll about 100 students in its first year, with nearly a dozen new campuses opening nationally this fall.
Limited Outside Research on Outcomes
Education researchers express skepticism about the model's effectiveness. Victor Lee, an associate professor at Stanford University's Graduate School of Education, said there is virtually no outside research validating Alpha's AI-driven software or its academic outcomes.
Lee cautioned against removing teachers entirely. "There's just so much that teachers are doing that is well-beyond what even the most sophisticated language models can do," he said. He also flagged a comparison problem: Alpha students come from families with financial means to afford $55,000 tuition, which tends to correlate with higher test scores regardless of the school model.
Joe Vukov, an associate philosophy professor at Loyola University Chicago who studies AI ethics, raised concerns about the absence of traditional teacher-student relationships. "I worry that you're changing the nature of what learning and education, at its best, has always looked like," he said.
The Role of 'Guides'
Alpha's non-credentialed "guides" supervise students and serve as motivators and mentors rather than subject-matter experts. Price said the guides set individual goals, oversee workshops, and track progress-but the AI software handles instruction.
"We're not replacing teachers. The role is just changing," Price said. "Our teachers don't need to be subject matter experts."
Some parents report rapid academic progress. Sarah Cone, a venture capitalist, enrolled her 8-year-old daughter at Alpha's Manhattan campus in fall 2025. Within months, her daughter advanced two grades in reading and math, Cone said.
Charter Rejection and School Choice Politics
Alpha applied for charter status in 10 states, which would have made tuition free. The applications were rejected in all but one state. Price said the rejections reflect resistance to innovation in education, though she acknowledged that private schools attract students with greater academic resources.
At Alpha's flagship Texas school, more than 40% of students receive financial aid. Price said she is working to expand access beyond wealthy families.
Alpha's expansion unfolds amid national debate over school choice and a Trump administration federal voucher program. Gov. JB Pritzker is weighing whether Illinois will participate. The program would offer dollar-for-dollar tax credits for donations to scholarship nonprofits. Critics say it diverts funds from public schools.
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon toured Alpha's Austin campus in September and was "very complimentary of what she saw," Price said. The Trump administration is promoting AI literacy in schools, according to an April executive order.
The visit prompted pushback from public school advocates. Pankaj Sharma, secretary-treasurer of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, questioned the model. "Is this what the voucher lobby is pushing for? Exorbitant tuition for a school with a MAGA founder, no teachers … No thank you," he said.
Price has donated more than $2 million since 2023 to Republican candidates and political action committees promoting school choice, according to The Washington Post. Both Alpha and Price have said they are apolitical and have no ties to the Trump administration.
What Educators Should Know
For education professionals, Alpha represents one approach to integrating AI into K-8 learning. The model raises practical questions: Can adaptive software replace direct instruction? What does mentorship look like without subject expertise? How do students develop relationships with educators?
As schools explore AI for Education, these questions remain unanswered by independent research. Educators considering similar models should examine the evidence closely and understand the differences between AI-assisted instruction and fully AI-driven curricula.
For those working in education policy or school leadership, understanding the AI Learning Path for Teachers provides context on how educator roles are shifting as schools adopt new technologies.
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