New Tech Network

New Tech Network
Name	New Tech Network
Formation	1996
Type	Nonprofit school network
Headquarters	Napa, California
Region served	United States
Leader title	CEO

New Tech Network is a nonprofit organization that supports a national network of public schools focused on project-based learning, technology integration, and college- and career-ready competencies. Founded in the late 20th century, it has collaborated with school districts, philanthropic foundations, and state agencies to launch and sustain innovative high schools and middle schools across multiple states. The organization engages with education reform actors, teacher leaders, and postsecondary partners to scale a model that emphasizes real-world projects, competency assessment, and collaborative culture.

History

New Tech Network emerged from local school reform efforts in the 1990s influenced by pioneers such as Bill Gates-funded initiatives, MacArthur Foundation grants, and state-level reforms in California. Early growth intersected with national initiatives including the Charter School movement, the expansion of Project Lead The Way, and pilots funded by the Annenberg Foundation. In the 2000s, partnerships with districts like Fresno Unified School District and philanthropic organizations such as the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation supported replication. The network's timeline parallels policy shifts driven by the No Child Left Behind Act and later the Every Student Succeeds Act, as well as research from institutions like Johns Hopkins University and Stanford University. Organizational development included collaborations with technical assistance providers such as EdTrust and evaluation partners like RAND Corporation.

Educational Model

The network's pedagogy centers on Project-Based Learning informed by research from Harvard Graduate School of Education and design principles seen in programs like High Tech High and Expeditionary Learning. Core elements include collaborative teams, performance-based assessments, integrated use of technology platforms similar to those used in Khan Academy and Google for Education, and teacher professional development aligned with frameworks from Learning Forward and National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Schools adopt competency rubrics that echo standards from the Common Core State Standards Initiative and college-readiness metrics used by ACT, Inc. and College Board. The model also engages community partners including local employers, workforce boards such as Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act entities, and higher education institutions like University of California campuses and California State University systems.

Programs and Services

The organization provides school design services, leadership coaching, teacher training, curriculum resources, and digital tools akin to those developed by edX and Coursera. Services include network convenings, fidelity reviews similar to protocols used by KIPP Foundation, and data systems modeled on platforms from Illuminate Education and Student Information Systems used by districts such as Los Angeles Unified School District. Partnerships extend to philanthropic intermediaries like Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and regional education collaboratives such as NewSchools Venture Fund. Professional development often references research from Brookings Institution and implementation science methods used by Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Partner Schools and Network Growth

Partner schools span urban, suburban, and rural settings, including districts like Austin Independent School District, Denver Public Schools, Miami-Dade County Public Schools, and charter operators similar to Summit Public Schools and Rocketship Education. Growth strategies used mirrors of scaling employed by Teach For America and Success Academy Charter Schools, and have been documented alongside case studies from National Education Association analyses and reports by Education Commission of the States. International comparisons draw from models in Australia, United Kingdom, and Finland where project-based and competency education have been adopted. The network tracks enrollment and demographic indicators comparable to datasets from National Center for Education Statistics.

Governance and Funding

Governance structures include a board of directors with leaders from philanthropy, corporate partners, and school leadership similar to governance seen at institutions like NewSchools Venture Fund and The Walton Family Foundation-supported boards. Funding streams combine grants from foundations, contracts with districts, and philanthropic investments reminiscent of funding models used by Teach For America and DonorsChoose. Financial oversight and evaluation practices reference standards from Council of Nonprofits and audit frameworks used by Urban Institute-supported nonprofit research. Major donors historically include entities such as The Rockefeller Foundation and regional funders active in California and Texas education philanthropy.

Impact and Outcomes

Evaluations by external researchers and policy organizations, including studies similar to those by RAND Corporation, Mathematica Policy Research, and university partners like University of Chicago researchers, assess academic outcomes, graduation rates, and college persistence. Reported impacts align with findings from research on project-based learning and include measures tracked by Common Core-aligned assessments, state accountability systems in California and Texas, and college enrollment metrics maintained by National Student Clearinghouse. Outcomes are discussed in relation to broader reform efforts championed by leaders such as Michelle Rhee and commentators from Education Week and The Hechinger Report.

Category:Education reform organizations