Pennsylvania Rejects AI Cyber School; Arizona Approves

The Pennsylvania Department of Education has rejected the application for Unbound Academy, a proposed cyber charter school that planned to use artificial intelligence for teaching, due to numerous deficiencies. The school's model, which included AI-led classes with human teachers as 'guides,' failed to demonstrate alignment with state academic standards and lacked evidence of sustainable support from teachers and students. Concerns cited included unrealistic enrollment growth projections, insufficient curriculum details, and potential issues with supporting special education. The decision was supported by education unions and advocacy groups, who argued that AI cannot replace human instructors in guiding student learning. Despite the rejection in Pennsylvania, Unbound Academy has been approved to open in Arizona for the 2025-26 school year.