When a New-Tech Model and Business-as-Usual Collide

The Cleveland Metropolitan School District opened a new style of high schools in 2010, “New Tech” high schools that focus on teaching through projects rather than lectures and on integrating technology into the classroom.

The New Tech schools are part of a national network of like schools: In addition to the different style of teaching, agreements negotiated between the district and its union allowed the schools to have longer school days, for the principals to pick their own staff and for other deviations from the district norm.