Leaked documents and former employee accounts reveal Alpha School, an AI-driven private institution charging up to $65,000 annually, generates lesson plans that internal reviews found sometimes do "more harm than good." The school also scrapes data from other online courses without permission to train its AI systems, raising serious ethical and efficacy questions about its core educational model.

The school's "2 Hour Learning" model promises personalized education via AI tutors, but documents show students often require more time. Furthermore, sensitive student data, including video recordings, was stored in a publicly accessible Google Drive folder, exposing minors to unnecessary privacy risks while the company pursues a "no humans in the loop" future.

Despite praise from outlets like *The New York Times* and former Education Secretary Linda McMahon, the investigation indicates student anxiety stems from constant digital monitoring. Success frequently depended on human tutors compensating for low-quality AI materials, contradicting the school's sleek automation pitch and leaving students unprepared for advanced coursework.