As classes begin for Brooklyn and city students, the city has a lot of changes in store for the school year.

Eighty-five Brooklyn schools are becoming empowerment schools this year. Education officials say designating empowerment schools is one of the most experimental moves by the city. In each of the schools, the principals will be given more control over hiring staff and designing curriculums tailored to the school?s needs. In order to give empowerment schools the extra funding they need, education officials say the city cut the number of jobs in 10 regional offices.

Another change this year will be that parents can judge a child?s school with new school report cards. Meanwhile, seven new high schools are opening in Brooklyn.