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• Education

Quality school education is vital for individual potential and a healthy society. All children should have access to an education that is responsive to their needs as well as upholding high academic standards. CIS’s research focus is on policies that improve the quality of teaching and student outcomes.

ATAR changes
ATAR’s rising relevance: admission standards and completion rates
Rob JosephFebruary 27, 2023AP44

Join us on Wednesday, 27 March, as we welcome Sarah Powell to CIS to discuss...

2023 NSW State Election: Education Debate
Sarah Mitchell, Prue Car, Glenn FaheyFebruary 20, 2023
CIS welcomes NSW Education Minister, Sarah Mitchell and NSW Shadow Education Minister, Prue Car for...
Why we need to track intergenerational school performance
Matthew TaylorFebruary 16, 2023THE CONVERSATION

The notion of the ‘fair go’ is meant to be central to Australia’s national ethos....

NAPLAN sets bar too low to spot students at risk of failing
Glenn FaheyFebruary 14, 2023AFR

Just as tinkering with a barometer doesn’t actually change the weather, updating NAPLAN test benchmarks...

Focus needs to be on more high quality teaching
Glenn FaheyFebruary 6, 2023DAILY TELEGRAPH

All too predictably, the NSW state election could become the latest education bidding war —...

Emily Hanford: Sold A Story
Emily Hanford, Glenn FaheyFebruary 3, 2023
We welcomed Investigative education reporter and host of the ground-breaking Sold a Story podcast, Emily...
Childcare in Australia: A new approach
Gigi FosterNovember 20, 2025RR51

Executive summary Several well-known bodies, from the Productivity Commission to the Australian Competition and Consumer...

Knowledge is power: What do teachers believe about learning?
Trisha JhaOctober 30, 2025AP92

Executive Summary This report presents findings from literature about what teachers believe about how students...

Sex and maths success: myths and interventions
David C. GearyJuly 17, 2025AP83

Executive summary Mathematical competencies at the completion of secondary school influence later educational and occupational...

Early Numbers, Big Ideas. Fostering Number Sense in Young Children
Nancy C. Jordan, Nancy DysonJuly 10, 2025AP82

Introduction Numbers are an integral part of our daily lives, both inside and outside of...

Fractions Minus the Friction. A guide to four teaching practices
Leanne R. Ketterlin-Geller, Allison McClure, Cassandra HatfieldDecember 12, 2024AP78

Introduction Understanding fractions has a significant impact on both individuals and society. Fractions are an...

The Argument For Debate: how school debating can improve academic outcomes and foster a stronger democracy
Deidre Clary, Fiona MuellerDecember 5, 2024AP77

Introduction The Education Goals for Young Australians prioritise “excellence and equity” and the formation of...

A degree of uncertainty
July 19, 2000The Courier Mail

We often hear about a crisis in our universities, but the crisis is older and...

Why Learning is a Hard Haul Without a Dad
Alison RichJuly 15, 2000The Age

Research over the last few years has shown that, on average, children from sole parent...

Schools Need to be Truly ‘Public’
Jennifer Buckingham OAMMay 7, 2000

Discussions about the future of education in Australia tend to be constricted by a narrow...

Beyond the Classroom: How Parents Influence Their Children’s Education
Alison RichMarch 15, 2000

In a society that demands a high level of education and skill for a successful...

Education fieldwork assistant
August 4, 1921

  Please apply by email to jblack@cis.org.au An opportunity exists to provide fieldwork assistance to...

Swap obstacles for teachers
Jennifer Buckingham OAMNovember 30, 0001The Australian

We need new methods to make maths teaching more appealing to the right type of...

On Liberty EP25 Education reforms to boost productivity
Glenn Fahey, Peter AchterstraatSeptember 22, 2020On Liberty

Hosted by CIS Research Fellow, Glenn Fahey. In this webinar, Glenn spoke with Peter Achterstraat...

On Liberty EP19 Should we increase university places?
Salvatore Babones, Andrew NortonAugust 13, 2020On Liberty

Salvatore Babones spoke with Andrew Norton, co-founder of CIS Liberty & Society and Professor of...

Do schools need a transformation?
Jordan Baker, Pasi Sahlberg, Greg AshmanAugust 13, 2020

A discussion between leading experts on the future of Australian education. Pasi Sahlberg and Greg...

On Liberty EP12 Five from Five Update
Salvatore Babones, Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 18, 2020On Liberty

We were pleased to have Dr Jennifer Buckingham to On Liberty. Jennifer is director of...

On Liberty EP7 Learning from home isn’t fair or sustainable
Salvatore Babones, Blaise JosephMay 14, 2020On Liberty

Salvatore Babones is joined by Blaise Joseph, Research Fellow in education and a former secondary...

Parental School Choice in Australia
Fiona Mueller, Michael Nuttall, Dallas McInerney, Dianne Giblin, Glenn FaheyNovember 26, 2019

Led by Fiona Mueller, the CIS education program focuses on School Choice and School Funding...

Submission to Senate Education and Employment References Committee
Michael Wu October 22, 2025CIS

Despite good intentions, Australia’s Early Childhood Education and Care system has expanded well beyond its...

Submission to the Productivity Commission’s Interim Report on Building a Skilled and Adaptable Workforce
Trisha JhaSeptember 18, 2025

Submission at a glance 1. Achieving written curriculum quality is a necessary step for long-term...

Submission to the Independent Review of Education in Tasmania
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2024

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think tank...

Submission to the Inquiry into Literacy and Numeracy in ACT Public Schools
Trisha JhaFebruary 27, 2024

This submission does not directly seek to answer the 20 questions posted in the Consultation...

Submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry into the State Education System in Victoria
Trisha JhaOctober 4, 2023

Introduction The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS) is a leading independent public policy think...

Submission to the NSW Curriculum Review Interim Report Consultations
Fiona MuellerDecember 1, 2019

The NSW Government commissioned a review of the state’s curriculum in September, 2018, to be...

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