Many of these innovative strategies strive to shift accountability from centralized bureaucracies to local schools and to create educational options. These initiatives often target urban school districts and low-income children, who are most at risk of failing to achieve at high levels, and they aim to empower teachers, parents, students, and community members. Below are some examples. Most networks are led by an organization that oversees schools' work and provides technical assistance where needed. The Coalition of Essential Schools is one of the largest networks in the country, encompassing nearly 1,000 K-12 schools in 32 states.
Coursework emphasizes problem-solving techniques, concepts, analyses, and applications.
Parents, students, and teachers set goals together. Roots and Wings schools aim to provide as much support as necessary to make sure at-risk students succeed. Some 25 states have adopted charter legislation, most of which aim to give parents educational options, allow entrepreneurial opportunities for educators, and promote accountability from schools and fair competition for public school districts. Charter school legislation allows groups other than public school districts to start and operate schools within the public school system. State per-pupil funding allocation follows the students who enroll.