Boston Pilot Schools

Learn about a group of teachers who created a teacher-powered school in a district setting.

The Reason Foundation describes and reviews Boston Pilot Schools in its 2009 Weighted Student Formula Handbook.

This resource is particularly useful to teachers who are considering securing autonomy to design and run schools in a district setting. In 1994, Boston Public Schools designed “pilot schools” in an effort to retain teachers and students after the Massachusetts Legislature passed a state chartering law. Under the pilot agreement, the BPS Superintendent delegates authority to pilot schools’ governing boards to try new and different means of improving teaching and learning in order to better serve at-risk urban students. Sometimes, governing boards delegate the authority to teachers at the school.

Since 2007, the United Teachers of Los Angeles has practiced similar arrangements.

Go to Resource

Displayed on

Finding inspiration and motivation for the work