Category: Choice and competition

The Federal Education Minister, Peter Garrett, has once again failed to provide convincing evidence that greater school autonomy will improve student outcomes. Lacking any compelling evidence for the program, the Minister can only resort to faith that it will make a difference to student results.

Continue reading “Another Faith-Based Statement by Garrett on School Autonomy”

Ten years ago — against all odds — Finland was ranked as the world’s top education nation. It was strange because in Finland education is seen as a public good accessible to all free of charge without standardized testing or competitive private schools.

When I look around the world, I see competition, choice, and measuring of students and teachers as the main means to improve education. This market-based global movement has put many public schools at risk in the United States and many other countries, as well. But not in Finland. Continue reading “How GERM is Infecting Schools Around the World”

This article is the first in a series on mapping the extent and differences in school autonomy across jurisdictions and school sectors in Australia. The aim is to provide an up to date information base for further discussion of issues around school autonomy.

The information provided below and in forthcoming articles is a first go at developing a comprehensive overview of school autonomy in Australia. Comment is invited with a view to correcting mistakes and omissions.

Continue reading “Mapping School Autonomy in Australia: Part 1”

The Federal Minister for Education, Peter Garrett, claims that greater school autonomy over budgeting and staffing will increase student results. The government has committed nearly $500 million over the next seven years to increase school autonomy in schools around Australia. About 1000 government and private schools will participate in the program over the next two years. Continue reading “The Evidence for School Autonomy is Far From Compelling”

Charter schools are about to be launched in New Zealand. Last month, the New Zealand Government announced the establishment of a working group to advise on a charter school model for NZ. Continue reading “Charter Schools Come Closer to Home”

This article is an abridged version of a new research brief published by Save Our Schools which reviews the research evidence on the impact of charter schools in the United States on student achievement.

Charter schools are an experiment in school autonomy. After 20 years we can say that the experiment has not been a marked success. The latest research evidence shows that charter schools do not deliver better results than other public schools. Continue reading “Charter Schools are not a Good Advertisement for School Autonomy”

Viewers of the ABC’s Lateline last week had a special treat – an evidence-based discussion of education policy. Finland’s director of education, Pasi Sahlberg, was interviewed on the success of his country in international student assessments. He said its success was due to a focus on equity in education.

Continue reading “Finnish Lessons”