Austin, Texas, September 11, 2025
News Summary
U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Alpha School in South Austin to discuss the increasing integration of artificial intelligence in education. The school uses AI to provide personalized tutoring and has a unique structure focusing on life skills development. While the annual tuition is $40,000, 75% of students receive financial aid. During her visit, McMahon expressed interest in adopting AI-enhanced teaching practices in public education and highlighted upcoming reforms in Texas education.
Austin, Texas — U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Alpha School in South Austin on Tuesday to emphasize the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. The school’s innovative teaching model, which combines AI with life skills training, aims to redefine the traditional educational framework and enhance student learning.
Alpha School operates without conventional teachers, relying instead on “guides” who encourage student motivation and engagement. The unique structure of the school day includes two hours of personalized, one-on-one AI tutoring focused on core subjects. This structure allows students to benefit from tailored lesson plans and assessments that cater to their individual learning paces.
According to reports, students at Alpha School learn significantly more in the dedicated two-hour learning sessions than they would in a standard six-hour school day. Feedback from students indicates that the efficiency of the learning model has led to a reduction in daily schoolwork time. For some students, a traditional school setup could previously take as long as 12 hours of work daily.
The remaining six hours of the school day focus on developing vital life skills, such as public speaking, grit, robotics, and entrepreneurship. This curriculum is designed to ensure that students not only excel academically but also gain practical skills necessary for future success.
The cost of attending Alpha School is $40,000 per year, which raises concerns about accessibility for families. However, 75% of students currently receive some form of financial aid. The visit comes as Texas prepares to implement an Education Savings Account program, which intends to assist families with private school tuition costs. This initiative represents a $1 billion investment aimed at benefiting between 80,000 and 100,000 students in its first year.
Secretary McMahon’s visit highlighted her interest in integrating practices from Alpha’s AI-enhanced model into public education systems. She expressed enthusiasm for the opportunities presented by the AI framework and called for other schools to explore similar innovative educational practices.
In addition to the focus on AI, Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath underlined the significance of personalized learning systems within the education sector. He noted upcoming reforms in Texas education, including a move away from the traditional STAAR exam system. Starting in the 2027-28 academic year, a new system of assessments throughout the year will be introduced to better cater to students’ individual learning levels.
Alpha School, which has expanded to five campuses in Texas and has plans for further nationwide growth in the coming year, seeks to inspire educational change across the country. Their ultimate goal is to improve both student and teacher success through a modernized approach to education.
FAQ
- What is Alpha School? Alpha School is a private educational institution in Austin, Texas, that uses AI-enhanced learning models and life skills courses instead of traditional teaching methods.
- How does AI contribute to learning at Alpha School? AI is utilized to create personalized lesson plans and assessments tailored to each student’s individual knowledge and pace, enhancing their learning efficiency.
- What is the structure of the school day at Alpha? The school day includes two hours of one-on-one AI tutoring in core subjects, followed by six hours focused on life skills development.
- Is Alpha School accessible to all families? Alpha School charges $40,000 in tuition per year, but 75% of its students receive financial aid to help with costs.
- What educational changes are happening in Texas? Texas is implementing an Education Savings Account program and moving away from the STAAR exam in favor of a new assessment system aimed at personalized education.
Key Features of Alpha School
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Teaching Model | AI-enhanced with life skills courses |
| Daily Structure | Two hours of one-on-one AI tutoring, six hours of life skills |
| Personalization | Customized lesson plans and assessments |
| Annual Tuition | $40,000 |
| Financial Aid | 75% of students receive some form of financial assistance |
| Future Plans | Expansion to more campuses nationwide |
| Upcoming Reforms | Transitioning away from STAAR exams towards personalized assessments |
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Additional Resources
- KVUE
- Statesman
- The New York Times
- KXAN
- Community Impact
- Wikipedia: Artificial Intelligence
- Google Search: AI in education
- Google Scholar: artificial intelligence in education
- Encyclopedia Britannica: artificial intelligence
- Google News: artificial intelligence education
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