Teacher unions have been active in starting new, teacher-run schools in city-level innovation zones.

The Boston Teachers Union started Boston Teachers Union School (BTU School) in 2009, as an independent pilot school. And, responding to a district call for proposals, the Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA) opened the Math and Science Leadership Academy (MSLA) in 2009. The Denver school has been very popular among teachers, and received approximately 30 applications for each position when it first opened.