What happened
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and his staff at the Texas Education Agency (TEA) actively facilitated the introduction of an AI-driven learning platform developed by Alpha School into public school districts. This occurred after the Texas State Board of Education rejected a proposal to open an Alpha-affiliated charter school in 2025 due to concerns regarding student screen time and the validity of the company's academic performance claims. According to ProPublica and The Texas Tribune, TEA officials coordinated site visits, connected company representatives with district superintendents, and drafted promotional materials for the software. Consequently, Houston ISD, Fort Davis, and Aldine school districts launched pilot programs using the AI tool.
In June 2025, the Texas State Board of Education voted 10-3 against an Alpha School charter application, citing concerns over the company's reliance on AI for instruction and the lack of verifiable student performance data. Despite this, Commissioner Mike Morath and his staff continued to engage with Alpha leadership and its associated entities, including the intervention-focused platform Studient.
Internal emails obtained by ProPublica and The Texas Tribune reveal that TEA staff, including Associate Commissioner Andrew Hodge and blended learning lead Michael Strange, coordinated with Alpha associates to pitch the software to at least 10 school districts. This included drafting a one-page explainer for districts and facilitating site visits for superintendents.
Three districts—Houston ISD, Fort Davis, and Aldine—have confirmed the launch of pilot programs. While the districts describe the software as a supplemental tool for academic intervention, the extent of the TEA's ongoing involvement and the specific terms of these pilots remain largely opaque. Houston ISD, for instance, has requested that the Texas attorney general withhold the contract from public disclosure.
The company behind the software, which has received significant investment from tech billionaire Joe Liemandt, has faced rejection for charter applications in at least nine states. In Texas, the company's existing charter school in Austin received an 'F' rating from the TEA last year, with only 21% of students passing state-mandated exams.
Source details: propublica.org ↗
Why it matters
The involvement of the TEA in promoting a private AI platform that was previously rejected by the state’s elected education board raises significant questions regarding transparency, accountability, and the influence of private interests on public education policy. While the TEA maintains there is no formal partnership, the agency's role in connecting districts to the software—despite the company's mixed track record in other states and poor performance ratings at its existing charter locations—suggests a potential circumvention of established oversight. This development highlights the tension between state-level administrative support for 'tech-enabled' educational models and the skepticism held by elected officials and education experts regarding the efficacy and safety of AI in classrooms.
The situation underscores a conflict between state administrative agencies and elected oversight boards. By facilitating these pilots, the TEA has effectively bypassed the board's decision-making authority, leading critics to argue that the agency is prioritizing unproven private technology over public accountability.
The lack of transparent evidence regarding the AI's efficacy is a major point of contention. Education experts, such as David DeMatthews of the University of Texas at Austin, have criticized the promotion of a product that has not demonstrated success in public school environments, which often serve more diverse student populations than private or specialized charter settings.
The involvement of high-level officials, including the Commissioner of Education, in promoting a specific private vendor raises ethical concerns about the role of the state in vetting and endorsing educational technology. The fact that the TEA is actively resisting public records requests regarding these communications further complicates the ability of the public to assess the nature of these relationships.
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What to watch next
The primary concern is the long-term impact of these pilot programs on student outcomes and the potential for further expansion of the AI platform into other Texas districts. Observers are monitoring whether the TEA will release further communications regarding its coordination with Alpha and its affiliates, as the agency is currently fighting the release of additional records. Additionally, the political landscape in Texas, including Governor Greg Abbott’s proposed restrictions on classroom screen time and the upcoming gubernatorial election, may influence the future of these pilots. The lack of public data on the effectiveness of the AI tool in these specific public school settings remains a critical unknown for parents and educators.
The outcome of the pilot programs in Houston, Fort Davis, and Aldine will be a key indicator of whether the software gains broader adoption. If the districts report positive results, it may lead to a wider rollout; however, if performance remains stagnant or declines, it could trigger a political backlash against the TEA's involvement.
Legislative and executive actions regarding screen time in schools are expected to intensify. If Governor Abbott’s proposals to limit screen time are codified, it could force the termination of these AI-heavy pilot programs, regardless of their perceived academic benefits.
Ongoing public information requests and potential legal challenges regarding the transparency of the TEA's communications with Alpha and its affiliates will be critical to watch. The public's ability to access contracts and internal discussions will determine the level of scrutiny the agency faces moving forward.