The future of education is here, and it's sparking a revolution! In the heart of San Francisco, a new private school is making waves with its bold embrace of artificial intelligence (AI). But is this innovative approach the key to unlocking a brighter future for US education, or is it a controversial experiment that raises more questions than answers?
Alpha School San Francisco, part of a network of 14 private schools across the nation, has opened its doors to students from kindergarten to eighth grade, promising a unique learning experience. With just two hours of focused academic work each day, Alpha claims its students can achieve twice the learning outcomes of their peers in traditional schools, all with the help of AI.
But here's where it gets controversial: Alpha's heavy reliance on AI and its seemingly successful results have researchers and experts in education and technology on edge. While they acknowledge the inevitable role of AI in pedagogy, they also express caution and the need for critical evaluation.
"AI has the potential for exciting applications in education, but we must learn from past experiments that haven't served our kids well, especially those driven by tech enthusiasts," says Emma Pierson, an assistant professor of computer science at the University of California, Berkeley, and an affiliate of the Berkeley AI Research Lab. Pierson, a cautious optimist when it comes to AI, emphasizes the need for objective research to understand its impact on students from all backgrounds.
Alpha School's website paints a futuristic picture: AI-powered tools allow students to spend just two hours a day on traditional subjects like history and math, adapting to their unique learning styles and paces. The rest of the day is dedicated to learning life skills through creative activities, promoting teamwork, social skills, and financial literacy. Instead of traditional teachers, students are guided by 'coaches' who oversee their self-directed learning process.
While these elements may seem novel, experts point out that similar pedagogical approaches have been used in the past. The number of hours dedicated to traditional schoolwork, for instance, is comparable to what students spend on group projects, socializing, and breaks in traditional schools. Self-directed learning models, such as the Montessori approach, have also been around for a long time, offering adaptive and customizable learning experiences that foster independence.
"A lot of schools have been using this kind of strategy," explains Ying Xu, an assistant professor of education at Harvard University. Xu herself chose a Montessori school for her son due to its adaptive and independence-fostering model.
Some of the software Alpha uses, such as IXL and Math Academy, has been widely adopted in public and private educational settings to create personalized learning pathways. Alpha is also developing and deploying new software through its affiliated brand, 2 Hour Learning, with over half of students' app-based learning done via proprietary software.
This proprietary software tracks student learning, offering lessons at the right pace and grade level, allowing Alpha to tailor lessons to each student's needs. AI's primary role, experts say, is to help Alpha's guides understand how students are learning and make suggestions on the best next steps. "AI is brought in as a layer to understand students' pacing and then make suggestions on what might be best next," explains Chris Agnew, director of Stanford University's Generative AI for Education Hub.
"It's not exactly a non-stop conversation with a personalized ChatGPT bot," echoes Victor Lee, an associate professor at Stanford's Graduate School of Education. Alpha confirms that chatbots are not part of their pedagogical approach.
In many ways, Alpha's relationship with technology aligns with what Americans are accustomed to seeing in elementary school classrooms. Screens are used, but not constantly, and apps are assigned with supervision. Most importantly, qualified adults are present in every classroom, fostering interpersonal learning, which Agnew believes should remain a vital part of the school experience.
Agnew wonders if Alpha is deliberately emphasizing its AI component to attract parents and students who fear their children might miss out on the AI revolution, and to generate profit. "They're leading with AI because they're riding the wave, and it's drawing lots of attention," he says.
Alpha's leadership team includes MacKenzie Price, the brand's founder and an education podcaster and social media influencer, who is married to software executive Andrew Price. Texas billionaire Joe Liemandt, the principal of Alpha Schools, and hedge-fund billionaire Bill Ackman are also associated with the brand.
The 2 Hour Learning website claims that Alpha students consistently score in the top 1-2% nationally and that 90% of Alpha students love going to school. However, experts worry that Alpha's demographics, with students from unusually affluent backgrounds, may skew assessments of the effectiveness of its methods. Students from such privileged backgrounds likely have access to other resources that contribute to their academic success, and their parents' high level of engagement with their children's education is another indicator of achievement.
Alpha rejects criticisms that its high achievement record is solely due to its students' privileged backgrounds, asserting that its model has the potential to improve academic achievement for all students. Experts caution that there is no one-size-fits-all pedagogy and that more research is needed to understand the impact of AI-assisted learning.
Xu's research at Harvard shows that learning with AI can lead to different outcomes depending on an individual's disposition. Children who are more self-directed and confident are more likely to use AI to enhance their understanding, while those lacking confidence may use AI to generate answers and avoid critical thinking. "A student who is intrinsically less motivated to learn might suffer in that setting," Xu says.
"Just like with Montessori schools, the format doesn't work for all students," Xu adds. "We shouldn't abandon direct instruction."
Rose Wang, a researcher at OpenAI, raises concerns about whether an app-based curriculum can serve all learners equally, especially as K-8 students are still developing foundational skills. Wang emphasizes the importance of core skills like reading, writing, and math for children growing up in the AI era, as these skills will ensure they can engage critically and effectively with new technologies.
"This model would probably work well for kids who are quite advanced already," Wang says, noting that younger students and those needing more assistance respond well to collaborative, in-person methods. "Our AI systems are great, but translating collaborative learning and teaching environments into automated interactions is challenging."
To truly understand the broad applicability of Alpha's method, experts call for more rigorous study. Pierson suggests developing a small pilot with a randomized control trial before scaling the model, addressing risks like AI hallucinations and algorithmic bias. Lee emphasizes the need for scrutiny regarding privilege and equitable access, especially in a city like San Francisco with vast wealth gaps.
Other Alpha campuses offer financial aid, but the San Francisco campus, with the highest tuition of any private school in the city, cannot yet afford to do so. With just 10 actively enrolled students and 25 families having made deposits for enrollment between 2025 and 2026, Alpha's San Francisco campus is still in its early stages.
Experts warn against over-regulating education in a way that discourages experimentation, especially as technology advances rapidly. Young people need opportunities to engage with technology meaningfully, and schools and teachers should have the latitude to try different approaches.
In Washington, the Peninsula school district is exploring how AI can make learning more inclusive; in Orange County, the superintendent has hired AI experts to guide schools in incorporating technology; and across California, public schools are integrating AI literacy into their curricula.
"Figuring out new ways to get students excited about learning, learning better, and learning faster is always welcome," Wang says.
At the end of the day, improvements to the current education system are necessary, and AI will undoubtedly be part of that conversation. The challenge for educators and policymakers is to navigate the noise and ensure that the benefits of AI in the classroom outweigh the risks.
"With the barrage of products being sold, it's hard to make decisions grounded in what's right for kids and what's good for learning," Agnew says. "But schools can't ignore AI."
As we navigate this exciting yet uncertain future, the debate over AI's role in education continues. What are your thoughts? Do you think AI has the potential to revolutionize education, or are there valid concerns that need addressing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
