Escuela Nueva means "new school" in Spanish and, since 1975, Escuela Nueva educational programs have been making schools and schooling a new enterprise. Escuela Nueva is child-centered, community-based education led by teachers who are facilitators for active, participatory and cooperative learning. Cost-effective and highly adaptable, Escuela Nueva works with—and for—millions of children around the world.

In practice, Escuela Nueva responds directly and systemically to education challenges that arise in communities with poor educational infrastructure, inadequate resources, high teacher turnover, high repetition and drop out rates, and low academic achievement. The model transforms the conventional school system. Escuela Nueva programs are based on four essential components: innovative curriculum, effective teacher training, community empowerment and school and classroom management. Implemented together, these components create a synergy between children, families, community and the school to improve the quality and efficacy of education.

Escuela Nueva is education programming that works because it is good pedagogics; practical, flexible, and user-friendly. Escuela Nueva is used by teachers in multi-grade classrooms (various grades handled by one teachers), conventional grade schools, and unconventional educational settings.