An online-based school in Arizona is outsourcing teaching duties entirely to artificial intelligence. The Arizona State Board for Charter Schools approved an application for an AI-based virtual academy in 2025.
Unbound Academy, which also operates in Texas and Florida under the name Alpha Schools, said kids can learn twice as much using a two-hour learning plan that AI customizes.
Instead of teaching, human adults help the students with motivation. The day starts with two hours of instruction on topics like math and science.
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According to the application, the AI system, which is powered by platforms like IXL and Khan Academy, will analyze the students’ responses, time spent on tasks and emotional cues to adjust the learning plan.
After spending time on traditional subjects, students work on non-academics, including life skills like teamwork, leadership and social interactions.
Unbound said this type of AI is different from what’s behind programs like ChatGPT, because it provides a more personalized experience.
A 2024 poll by Impact Research for the Walton Family Foundation showed some interesting results about current teaching practices:
- About half of teachers, 49%, say they use AI at least once a week, both in and out of school
- 37% said they have used AI to generate creative ideas for classes
- 32% have used AI to create lesson plans for classes
- Another 32% say they’ve used AI to create worksheets or examples for students
- 31% have used AI to create quizzes or even tests
The Unbound school in Arizona will begin teaching students in fourth through eighth grade. Depending on the program’s success, they may also expand to K-8.
Unbound also applied to open schools in Utah and Arkansas.
Tags: AI, Arizona, Artificial Intelligence, Charter school, Education, Generative AI, School districts, schools, Technology
[Lauren Taylor]
AN ONLINE-BASED SCHOOL IN ARIZONA IS HANDING OFF TEACHING DUTIES ENTIRELY TO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE ARIZONA STATE BOARD FOR CHARTER SCHOOLS APPROVED AN APPLICATION FOR AN A-I BASED VIRTUAL ACADEMY IN 20-25.
‘UNBOUND ACADEMY’, WHICH ALSO OPERATES IN TEXAS AND FLORIDA UNDER THE NAME ‘ALPHA SCHOOLS, SAYS KIDS CAN LEARN TWICE AS MUCH USING A TWO-HOUR LEARNING PLAN THAT’S CUSTOMIZED BY A-I.
HUMAN ADULTS ARE INVOLVED, BUT INSTEAD OF TEACHING, THEY’RE HELPING THE STUDENTS WITH MOTIVATION, WHILE THE DAY STARTS WITH TWO HOURS OF INSTRUCTION ON TOPICS LIKE MATH AND SCIENCE.
ACCORDING TO THE APPLICATION, THE A-I SYSTEM … WHICH IS POWERED BY PLATFORMS LIKE I-X-L AND KHAN ACADEMY … WILL ANALYZE THE STUDENTS’ RESPONSES, TIME SPENT ON TASKS AND EMOTIONAL CUES TO ADJUST THE LEARNING PLAN.
AFTER SPENDING TIME ON TRADITIONAL SUBJECTS, STUDENTS GET TO WORK ON NON-ACADEMICS INCLUDING LIFE SKILLS LIKE TEAMWORK, LEADERSHIP AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS.
‘UNBOUND’ SAYS THIS TYPE OF A-I IS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT’S BEHIND PROGRAMS LIKE CHAT G-P-T BECAUSE IT PROVIDES A MORE PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE.
ACCORDING TO A 20-24 POLL BY IMPACT RESEARCH FOR THE WALTON FAMILY FOUNDATION … ABOUT HALF OF TEACHERS SAID THEY USED A-I AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK FOR WORK WITH 37 PERCENT SAYING THEY HAVE USED IT TO GENERATE IDEAS FOR CLASSES, 32 PERCENT SAYING THEY USED IT FOR LESSON PLANS, ANOTHER 32 PERCENT SAY THEY USED IT FOR WORKSHEET EXAMPLES AND 31 PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY USED A-I TO CREATE QUIZZES OR TESTS.
THE ‘UNBOUND’ SCHOOL IN ARIZONA WILL BEGIN TEACHING STUDENTS FOURTH THROUGH EIGHTH GRADE AND MAY EXPAND TO K THROUGH 8 DEPENDING ON THE SUCCESS OF THE PROGRAM.
‘UNBOUND’ ALSO APPLIED TO OPEN SCHOOLS IN UTAH AND ARKANSAS.
FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.
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