State’s embrace of AI-powered private education contrasts with restrictions placed on public schools
EDMOND — A new private school opening in Oklahoma next month is drawing attention not only for its $40,000 annual tuition but also for a model that replaces traditional classroom teachers with artificial intelligence.
Alpha School, an Austin, Texas-based private school network, plans to open campuses in Edmond and Tulsa beginning Aug. 12. Students spend about two hours each morning using an AI-powered learning platform before participating in afternoon workshops focused on life skills, entrepreneurship and hands-on projects.
The concept has generated national attention — and criticism — while highlighting a broader policy debate unfolding in Oklahoma over artificial intelligence, school choice and the future of education.
According to reporting by Oklahoma Watch, Alpha’s Oklahoma expansion comes as Gov. Kevin Stitt continues to promote artificial intelligence as a tool for innovation, even as Oklahoma has adopted tighter restrictions on how technology can be used in public classrooms.
Stitt toured an Alpha campus in Texas during a National Governors Association event last year and later said he wanted to bring similar AI-powered educational models to Oklahoma.
That enthusiasm stands in contrast to legislation he signed in 2025 limiting virtual instruction in Oklahoma public schools to 12 hours per academic year for traditional public school districts.
Earlier this year, lawmakers also unanimously approved the Oklahoma Responsible Technology in Schools Act, requiring public school districts to adopt artificial intelligence policies while maintaining that educators retain final authority over AI-assisted instruction, grading and student placement.
Those requirements, however, generally do not apply to private schools such as Alpha.
The school’s instructional model differs sharply from traditional classrooms. Rather than certified teachers delivering academic lessons, students complete individualized coursework through Alpha’s proprietary AI platform while adult “guides” monitor progress and later lead workshops on practical skills. According to Oklahoma Watch, guides are not required to hold teaching certificates and instead come from a variety of professional backgrounds.
Supporters argue the model offers highly personalized instruction and greater flexibility while allowing students to pursue entrepreneurial and real-world experiences during much of the school day.
Critics question whether artificial intelligence can adequately replace certified educators and whether students receive the academic and emotional support traditionally provided by classroom teachers.
Rep. Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, told Oklahoma Watch the model diminishes the importance of professional educators, while Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, said she is interested in watching how the concept develops but cautioned that student safety must remain a priority as AI becomes more prevalent in education.
Tuition for Alpha’s Oklahoma campuses will be $40,000 annually, although families enrolling during the inaugural school year receive a $10,000 discount for five years. Even at the reduced $30,000 rate, tuition exceeds that of Oklahoma’s most expensive traditional private schools.
Questions have also emerged about whether families could eventually qualify for Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit. Oklahoma Watch reported that Alpha was initially listed among approved schools before being removed by the Oklahoma Tax Commission after questions about accreditation. Alpha officials said the company did not apply for the program and expects its Oklahoma campuses to complete the accreditation process after opening.
As of mid-July, Alpha reported enrolling 26 students at its Edmond campus and 32 students in Tulsa.
Whether the AI-driven approach proves successful remains to be seen, but its arrival places Oklahoma at the center of a growing national debate over the role of artificial intelligence in education — and whether the standards applied to public schools should also extend to private institutions using dramatically different teaching models.
This story includes reporting by Oklahoma Watch.
