Teams were deliberately created organizations of experts. NAS
intended that teams would develop coherent designs and then work
with schools in further ground-level product development to perfect
those designs. Later, they would promote the use of their designs in
schools across the nation. Nearly 700 potential teams responded to
the RFP. The 11 initially chosen were mostly private nonprofit
organizations connected to universities or research organizations.
The exceptions were one for-profit firm, two districts, and one
nonprofit without a research or university connection.