State education staff helped Alpha School's AI platform into pilots in Houston, Aldine and Fort Davis
Emails obtained by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica show Texas Education Agency staff helped connect Alpha School's AI learning platform with public school districts. Education Commissioner Mike Morath and his staff visited Alpha campuses, helped with a one page explainer for districts and connected Alpha associates with district leaders. The newsrooms report that at least 10 districts were approached and at least three launched pilots. Those three are Houston ISD, Fort Davis ISD in West Texas and Aldine ISD near Houston, and all three say they will use the software for supplemental learning. Fort Davis will use it in its K-8 classrooms for students who need help in reading and math. Aldine will deploy it to roughly 300 students at four middle schools who need support in math. Houston ISD says it plans to use the tool with students who have strong test scores and is not paying Alpha. It asked the attorney general to withhold the contract from the newsrooms. TEA says it has no formal partnership with Alpha and left the decision to the districts. The State Board of Education had voted down the Alpha leaders' bid for a Texas charter that would use the same technology. The board's own minutes from June 2025 record a veto of one charter proposed on a two hour learning model, Valenta Academy in Bastrop. Neither the minutes nor the reporting names Alpha as its applicant.
How to take part
Each of the three districts is governed by a board that meets in public and posts its agendas. Fort Davis ISD lists its board meetings on its own site. A resident with a view on the pilot can raise it with the district or speak during a board meeting's public comment.
Where
2 counties. In Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands. Also in Jeff Davis, which is in no metropolitan or micropolitan area.
Timeline
- decided
The State Board of Education adopted the veto of Valenta Academy, a Bastrop charter proposed on a two hour learning model
- decided
The Texas Tribune and ProPublica reported the three district pilots and the agency emails behind them
- Today
How this decision moved
One dated line per check, oldest first. A line that says nothing changed means somebody looked and it had not.
- 2026-10-04
Admitted on The Texas Tribune and ProPublica's account of the agency emails and the district pilots. The State Board of Education's own minutes of its June 2025 charter vetoes are cited beside it.
- 2026-10-07
The Tribune's account and the state board's own minutes still read as cited, and the board's vote against the charter stands.
The evidence
Every fact above rests on one of these. The words are the source's own.
at least three of those districts — Houston; Fort Davis, in West Texas; and Aldine, near Houston — launched pilot programs incorporating the AI toolHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
state education officials and Alpha affiliates approached at least 10 school districts about the AI programHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
helped with a one-page explainer about the program to share with school districts and connected them with district leadersHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Emails show the commissioner visited Alpha’s campuses again with six other TEA leaders. His staff coordinated to go on the same day as Houston Superintendent Mike Miles.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
In September 2025, Morath responded to an email from associates of a private school chain called Alpha SchoolHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
I’d love to schedule a follow-up discussionHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Morath offered to personally introduce an Alpha leader to the superintendent he appointed to lead the yearslong state takeover of Houston Independent School DistrictHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Studient, a company that uses Alpha’s AI technology, now often called TimeBackHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
possibilities for piloting a few supplemental (you called this Tier 3 in your outline) instances in the stateHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
which included him drafting a one-page explainer of the pilot program to share with districtsHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
By mid-June, Strange applauded their progress securing pilots with Fort Davis and Aldine.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
All three districts with pilot programs said they will use the AI software for supplemental learning rather than fully implementing the Alpha School modelHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
which enrolls around 800 students, said it will deploy the model in its K-8 classrooms for students who need additional help in reading and mathHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
We’re excited because we see it as an opportunity to provide an extra layer of interventionHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Aldine will deploy the online platform to roughly 300 students across four middle school campuses that require support in math.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Houston ISD plans to use the Alpha technology for students with strong test scores “to evaluate whether this instructional approach can accelerate academic growthHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
The office said Houston ISD wasn’t paying Alpha for the pilot but did not provide more details.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
The district asked the Texas attorney general to withhold the contract from the newsrooms under the state’s public records act.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
there is no formal partnership between TEA and Alpha SchoolsHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
connected district leaders who were interested in Alpha’s program but left the decision up to them on whether to use itHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
at least five school districts — Ector County, Fort Bend, Irving, Pecos and Pflugerville — that confirmed they were approached about partnering with Alpha but did not pursue an agreementHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
determined our school day is not currently structured to effectively implement or support the pilotHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
he had supported Alpha leaders’ bid to open a charter school in Texas that would use the same technologyHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Then the Texas State Board of Education, which has the final say on such charter decisions, voted it down 10 to 3.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Board members cited concerns about the company’s use of AI to teach and students’ screen time, as well as lingering questions about the drastic student test improvements Alpha leaders presented.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
that they veto the proposed Generation 30 Subchapter D Open- Enrollment Charter School Valenta Academy (Bastrop) as recommended by the Commissioner.Texas State Board of Education minutes, June 27, 2025 Primary source, official · sboe.texas.gov
which was adopted 10-3-1Texas State Board of Education minutes, June 27, 2025 Primary source, official · sboe.texas.gov
The motion was adopted 10-3.Texas State Board of Education, Committee of the Full Board report, June 25, 2025 Primary source, official · sboe.texas.gov
Programming at Valenta Academy was proposed to be based on the two-hour learning modelValenta Academy will not open in Bastrop, Community Impact, July 2025 Journalism · communityimpact.com
utilizes adaptive artificial intelligence (AI) to enable a self-driven, accelerated learning experience for studentsValenta Academy to bring new way of learning to Bastrop children, Community Impact, December 2024 Journalism · communityimpact.com
using it to teach all students basic subjects in two hours a day while the human teachers, which Alpha calls guides, focus on motivation and emotional supportHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Last year, state test scores compiled by his agency showed just 21% of students passed. The TEA then gave the charter its third consecutive F ratingHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
I don’t want anything AI in our schools, especially at the lower gradesHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
It certainly raises a red flag that perhaps there’s ways to circumvent that concernHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Any tool a district deploys must keep teachers at the center of the classroom, limit unnecessary screen time, and prove results for students.How Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
remains unclear. The TEA has not responded to questions about its efforts for months, initially failed to provide some of Morath’s emails in response to public information requests and continues fighting the release of additional communicationsHow Mike Morath's agency helped get an AI tool in Texas public school classrooms, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, October 1, 2026 Journalism · texastribune.org
Questions about this decision
Answered from the record itself. Every answer is assembled from stored fields, so an answer the record has no basis for is left out rather than guessed.
What is this decision?
Emails obtained by The Texas Tribune and ProPublica show Texas Education Agency staff helped connect Alpha School's AI learning platform with public school districts. Education Commissioner Mike Morath and his staff visited Alpha campuses, helped with a one page explainer for districts and connected Alpha associates with district leaders. The newsrooms report that at least 10 districts were approached and at least three launched pilots. Those three are Houston ISD, Fort Davis ISD in West Texas and Aldine ISD near Houston, and all three say they will use the software for supplemental learning. Fort Davis will use it in its K-8 classrooms for students who need help in reading and math. Aldine will deploy it to roughly 300 students at four middle schools who need support in math. Houston ISD says it plans to use the tool with students who have strong test scores and is not paying Alpha. It asked the attorney general to withhold the contract from the newsrooms. TEA says it has no formal partnership with Alpha and left the decision to the districts. The State Board of Education had voted down the Alpha leaders' bid for a Texas charter that would use the same technology. The board's own minutes from June 2025 record a veto of one charter proposed on a two hour learning model, Valenta Academy in Bastrop. Neither the minutes nor the reporting names Alpha as its applicant.
Who decides it?
Houston ISD, Aldine ISD and Fort Davis ISD decides. The record names the deciding body for every entry it carries.
Can the public take part?
Each of the three districts is governed by a board that meets in public and posts its agendas. Fort Davis ISD lists its board meetings on its own site. A resident with a view on the pilot can raise it with the district or speak during a board meeting's public comment.
Where in Texas does it apply?
It covers Harris and Jeff Davis Counties in the Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX area.
Has it been decided?
It has been decided. The dates on the item page carry when.
What happens next?
No future date is on the record. The last dated step on it was decided on October 1st.
When did it start?
The earliest date on its record is June 27th, 2025.
What kind of decision is it?
It is filed under health and education.
What sources back it?
Five sources back it. Two of them are primary.
When was it last checked?
Every fact on it was last verified against its source on October 7th, 2026.
Cite this
Texas AI Docket, State education staff helped Alpha School's AI platform into pilots in Houston, Aldine and Fort Davis. Tracked since June 27th, 2025. Last verified October 7th, 2026. https://texasaidocket.com/item/tx-2026-0200/. Reuse permitted under CC BY 4.0 with attribution. The same entry is in the docket JSON as item tx-2026-0200.
Beat
Filed under Health and education, with every other decision on that beat.