Charter Schools Agency Receives 78 Applications to Open and Convert Schools

• Charter Schools Agency has received 78 applications for new and converted charter schools.
• Budget 24 funding allows for 15 new charter schools and 35 state school conversions.
• Detailed assessments of proposals will be completed before final decisions later this year.

Associate Education Minister David Seymour has announced that the Charter Schools Agency (CSA) has received 78 applications, either to establish new charter schools or convert existing state schools into charter schools.

“This shows the demand from educators to free themselves from the shackles of the state system and meet the needs of students who are being failed by the current system,” said Mr Seymour.

He highlighted the challenges facing the education sector, particularly in areas of attendance and achievement, and criticised the current “one size fits all” model, suggesting it struggles to address these issues effectively.

The funding allocated in Budget 24 will support the opening of 15 new charter schools and the conversion of 35 state schools to charter schools by 2025 and 2026, subject to demand and suitability.

“Due to demand outstripping the funding made available in Budget 24, I acknowledge some sponsors will be disappointed when final decisions are made by the CSA,” said Mr Seymour.

He explained that charter schools offer a flexible approach to education, allowing sponsors and communities to determine their own path to improving student achievement. With certain restrictions, they can set their own curriculum, hours, governance structure, and have more autonomy in spending their funding, provided they achieve agreed performance outcomes.

The application process will move into its second stage over the coming months, with final decisions expected later this year.

“The second stage is a detailed assessment of sponsors’ plans for the school before final decisions are made later this year. This will evaluate the focus of the proposed school, the capability of the sponsor, the standard of tuition to be provided, the level of support from the community, and financial and network implications for the Crown,” Mr Seymour said.

The first contracts for the new charter schools will be negotiated and signed before the end of the year, enabling these schools to open for term one in 2025.

“To provide certainty to sponsors, they will have a fixed-term contract of 10 years to operate a charter school, with two rights of renewal for 10 years each. All fixed-term periods are conditional on the school continuing to meet the terms of its contract,” Mr Seymour added.

He emphasised that charter schools will be closely monitored and could face closure if they fail to achieve their funded outcomes.

“I hope and intend to see many new charter schools opening, and state and state-integrated schools converting to become charter schools. Every child deserves the opportunity to succeed, to achieve to the best of their ability, and to gain qualifications that will support them into further study and employment,” Mr Seymour concluded.