The charter school plans to condense traditional academic instruction into two hours per day using AI-driven adaptive learning platforms like IXL and Khan Academy. These systems will customize content based on each student’s learning pace and style.
A charter school is a public school that operates independently of the state school system, but is still held accountable to the public.
While Unbound will employ human staff, they won’t necessarily be certified teachers. Instead, “skilled guides” will monitor student progress and provide coaching and interventions when needed.
The remaining school day will focus on life skills workshops covering topics like critical thinking, financial literacy, public speaking, and entrepreneurship.
The program targets students in grades 4-8. Enrollment begins in January 2025, with the program set to launch in August 2025.
Unbound Academy’s founders currently operate a similar program at a private school in Texas, though that version involves in-person learning rather than online-only.
As Arizona’s first AI-led public school, this initiative could signal a shift in how charter schools approach education delivery and teacher staffing. The model’s success or failure may influence future decisions about AI’s role in public education.
