Choice and Fairness: A common framework for all Australian schools

We are delighted to have launched our latest publication Choice and Fairness: A Common Framework for all Australian schools which calls for a new conversation about Australian education because as a country that prides itself on a ‘fair go’, we are letting down our young people.

The publication is our latest contribution to energising the conversation around equity and passion for deep learning and structural change. Previous publications are Beyond ATAR, which calls for a Learner Profile for all students (a recommendation taken up by the Shergold Report) and The Future School based on a global scan of schools meeting the challenge of our changing times.

ALL commissioned Tom Greenwell and Chris Bonnor, authors of Waiting for Gonski, to develop a proposal which prioritises a new equitable framework of how we fund and regulate our schools.

Our argument is that we see many proposals for school reform in Australia. But many of these proposals focus on changing school practice. If we don’t also put in place a new equitable framework these proposals have little chance to improve equality of opportunity and educational achievement for all our young people.

Our proposal has been informed by what happens internationally as well as research. For instance, New Zealand, Canada, Scotland, Belgium and the Netherlands show that it is possible to provide choice and diversity of schools to parents and students. In these countries: it is common for secular and religious schools to be fully publicly funded and free, and all schools receive government funding, but no fees are charged.

We are committed to driving a new conversation, which is badly needed, as a lack of quality education for all is not good for our young people’s future or our prospects as a country.

We would appreciate you sharing the report among your colleagues.

We also invite you to send your comments to equity@all-learning.org.au. We want to hear your thoughts about our proposal, its potential flaws, and for you to put up alternative solutions.