Policies

AltSchool

Context and Issue

The education system faced significant challenges in providing personalized learning experiences to students. Traditional public schools struggled with large class sizes, resulting in a one-size-fits-all approach that did not adequately address individual student needs. Wealthy families could afford private tutors and enrichment activities, but these options were inaccessible to the majority. The public education system was further criticized for its rigidity and inability to adapt to students' diverse learning styles and paces.

Solution

AltSchool, founded in 2013 by former Google executive Max Ventilla, addresses the rigidity of traditional education by providing personalized learning experiences. The model integrates technology to tailor education to individual student needs through digital lessons and hands-on projects. Flexible and adaptive classrooms feature individualized digital curricula and group projects. Teachers act as tutors, coaches, and community organizers, supported by a proprietary software platform that tracks progress and enables efficient lesson planning.

The curriculum includes structured online lessons in core subjects like math and reading, complemented by interdisciplinary projects. Continuous assessment allows real-time adjustments to learning plans, with detailed progress reports replacing traditional grades. AltSchool aims to democratize personalized learning by scaling its model through partnerships with other schools and districts, offering its technology platform to a broader audience. Key elements include personalized learning, a micro-school model, technology integration, teacher empowerment, project-based learning, and scalability, all working together to create a more engaging and effective learning experience.

Impact

AltSchool has demonstrated significant impact and success in personalized education. Research commissioned by the Gates Foundation found that students engaged in personalized learning, like AltSchool, made "significantly greater" gains in math and reading over two years than their peers. With $133 million in funding, AltSchool expanded rapidly from its first micro-school in San Francisco to multiple locations, including Brooklyn, New York. The school's individualized learning plans, supported by proprietary software, result in higher engagement and better academic performance. Traditional grades are replaced by detailed progress reports, offering a comprehensive view of student development. AltSchool's scalable model and technology platform are now being adopted by other schools and districts, broadening access to personalized learning and establishing AltSchool as a leader in modern education.

Analysis

Despite financial backing from investors like Mark Zuckerberg, AltSchool struggled with high operational costs of $40 million annually while charging $28,000 for tuition, leading to the closure of its Palo Alto and East Village campuses. The broader EdTech sector faced challenges in profitably deploying new educational models and encountered resistance to change. This prompted AltSchool to shift focus from expanding micro-schools to licensing educational software. The model faces barriers such as high tuition costs, reliance on advanced technology, and the need for skilled teachers. However, with $133 million in funding, adaptable implementation, and proprietary software for progress tracking, AltSchool's scalable model, supported by partnerships with other schools, shows promise for broader replication.