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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.

Why should the rich have free public schools?
Blaise JosephJuly 10, 2017THE SPECTATOR - FLAT WHITE

  We all know the school stereotype. Government schools are full of disadvantaged students and...

‘Free’ public schooling for all unnecessary and unfair
Blaise JosephJuly 7, 2017Ideas@TheCentre

We all know the school stereotype. Government schools are full of disadvantaged students and struggling...

Parent Panic
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 30, 2017Ideas@TheCentre

Australian preschools might have seen a rush of enrolments this week after media covered an...

Judas put 30 pieces in his pocket — Coalition’s treachery earns it zero
Blaise JosephJune 27, 2017THE AUSTRALIAN

Judas got 30 pieces of silver for his treachery, but the Turnbull government seems to...

Ignore the preschool panic
Jennifer Buckingham OAMJune 27, 2017THE SPECTATOR - FLAT WHITE

You might forgive parents reading the Sydney Morning Herald this week for thinking they’d better...

Gonski 2.0 hurts states and territories
Blaise JosephJune 22, 2017MEDIA RELEASE

The Gonski 2.0 package passed today by the Senate is a welcome improvement to the...

Using Curriculum-Based Measurement for Primary School Maths Screening
Erica S. Lembke, Emily L. Singell, Gabriella Lyth Donofrio, Megyn MartinAugust 15, 2024AP75
Universal screening is an essential component of a Multi-Tiered Support System (MTSS) for maths and...
book
Learning Lessons. The future of small-group tutoring
Trisha JhaJuly 25, 2024AP73
Student data from national and international testing shows a large minority of students are not...
maths
The Science of Maths and How to Apply It
Siobhan MerloJuly 11, 2024AP71

Introduction Australian students’ results on international tests of mathematics (TIMMS) and numeracy (PISA) lag behind...

maths warning
Screening That Counts: Why Australia Needs Universal Early Numeracy Screening
Kelly NorrisJune 20, 2024RR49

Executive summary Better early identification of students struggling with mathematics is a critical step in...

Sharpening teacher tools: Creating an evidence-based standard for quality instructional materials
Jarrod CarterMay 23, 2024AP69

Executive summary Every Australian classroom and school rely on the support of instructional materials in...

Reimagining Teacher Professionalism. Why standards must be part of ITE reform
Rebecca BirchMarch 21, 2024AP64

1. Executive Summary The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (Standards) do not adequately outline what...

We’ve spent the money, now what about the results?
Blaise JosephFebruary 23, 2026CANBERRA TIMES
We have a great window of opportunity now to finally follow through on education reforms...
Education has become a system designed to issue credentials rather than create knowledge
Steven SchwartzFebruary 10, 2026THE AUSTRALIAN
When a society forgets the difference between learning and performance, between a mind and a...
Science of learning
How revamping education will boost the Australian economy
Trisha JhaJanuary 24, 2026CANBERRA TIMES
If Australia wants productivity growth, it needs to start in the classroom....
Australia’s education system is failing students despite $100bn spending
Fiona MuellerDecember 27, 2025THE AUSTRALIAN
Taxpayers know all too well that massive increases in education funding (approaching $100 billion a...
School child reading book
Turning up a first step to success
Trisha JhaDecember 4, 2025DAILY TELEGRAPH
The best that can be said about the latest national attendance data is that things...
Give teachers clarity: Maths curriculum should build the staircase, not set the high jump
Kelly NorrisOctober 28, 2025EDUCATIONHQ

The national review of the F–2 maths curriculum is a welcome chance to put the...

Stronger Maths Starts With Early Screening
Kelly Norris, Randall EvansFebruary 7, 2025

In Australia, a significant number of students struggle with mathematics, with many falling behind early...

What is the Science of Learning? | Trisha Jha
Trisha Jha, Randall EvansJanuary 23, 2025

If we want to children to learn, we have to teach them in a way...

The Secret to Fixing Education Standards | Nick Gibb
Nick Gibb, Glenn FaheyNovember 21, 2024

Nick Gibb, the UK’s long-serving Schools Minister, shares insights into the transformative education reforms in...

Support CIS Research in 2024
Tom SwitzerJune 12, 2024

Donate or become a member below! Donate Today

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How to fix bad behaviour in schools | Tom Bennett
Glenn Fahey, Professor Tom BennettMay 28, 2024

Australian classrooms are some of the worst behaved in the world. The girls are stressed...

How to reward teachers for better educational outcomes
Edmund StephenApril 16, 2024

Unfortunately, we cannot simply throw money at all of our problems, as we have learned...

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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