Boston's Media and Technology Charter High School (MATCH) hardly looks like the high-tech secondary school of the future. Housed for now in the upper floors of the city's oldest synagogue, MATCH is not crammed with flat-screen LCD monitors and tangles of Ethernet cables. Its staff does not tote PDAs or digital walkie-talkies.

Charter schools vary widely in mission and methods. Some may have themes such as arts or technology, while others may cater to specific groups or types of students. The rules governing charter schools vary state-by-state, as do funding plans.