The Situation at Alpha School Is Darker Than We Thought Possible

In the wake of extensive reporting by education policy writer Benjamin Riley, it has come to light that the Alpha School network, a private institution employing AI-based tutoring, may be far more concerning than initially thought. The school's $75,000 annual tuition is accompanied by a disturbing array of practices. Students are subjected to rote assignments, monitored by individuals in offshore call centers, and even forced to wear heart rate monitors during class critiques.

Former students describe being "pitted against each other" based on their ability to complete assignments, subject to daily standardized math tests, and forced to explain their mistakes to random "laborers" from the Global South via video calls. The AI system allegedly tracks students' facial expressions and emotional states, leading to distress among youth.

Moreover, students are divided into "internal programs" such as "Rocket Ship," a program for the academically gifted, and "Pirate Ship," which allegedly groups struggling students together. One student recounted being demoted to sixth-grade math and having their credits "screwed up" deliberately to prevent them from transferring schools.

Students also reported being "nuked," a term used when their computer shuts down beyond the proprietary learning app, effectively trapping them within the system. The school's administration is reportedly forced to communicate with an outsourced software team, a process that can take days. Despite these revelations, Alpha School has not yet responded to Riley's concerns.

Riley concludes that the school's public narrative has been shattered and reiterates his commitment to revealing the "pedagogical and psychological malpractice against children."