Published on Wednesday, 21 August 2024 at 2:45:00 PM
The following information comes from the Department of Education.
Public consultation has now opened as part of the review of the School Education Act 1999.
On Tuesday 20 August 2024, the state government published a media release regarding the public consultation period for the School Education Act 1999 opening. Members of the public can have their say and contribute to this review, with the submission period ending 4 October 2024. To learn more about the School Education Act Review, visit the Department of Education website below.
School Education Act Review
Read the full media release
How to give your feedback
You can send a written or spoken response or even a video to the Department. Submit your feedback by:
Email, call or text the Department if you want to give your feedback another way.
Background
Schools strive to provide each student with a quality education that will be their stepping stone to a full life where they can maximise their potential as individuals and as contributing citizens.
Recent commissions, inquiries and reviews show us that we need to make changes so that those living with disability are fully included in all parts of society. Schools have a key role in this change. Schools that teach and value respect, diversity and differences, are key to creating for a society where everyone can participate and feel included.
The School Education Act was written more than 25 years ago and may not fully meet today’s understanding and community expectations for students with disability.
The WA Government considers it is time to review the School Education Act to find ways to improve access and inclusion for students with disability.
Purpose
The purpose of the review is to identify any barriers to access and inclusion within the School Education Act and make recommendations for change.
The review aims to make recommendations to:
- improve the inclusion of students with disability within school settings
- improve the school experience of children with disability
- make clearer the rights of children and families
- help schools better understand their responsibilities
- make sure the language, terms and definitions match modern expectations and understandings of disability
- better match the Act with other laws and policies.
Scope
In scope
The review will examine every section of the School Education Act to find barriers to, or opportunities to improve, access and inclusion for students with disability. This includes identifying any gaps in the legislation where it could be useful to introduce a position.
The review has already identified 7 relevant areas. We expect that more will arise during the review:
- right to enrol
- definition of disability
- right to teaching and learning adjustment
- requirements for schools to consult with children and families
- the role and function of Disability Advisory Panels
- restrictive practices
- better alignment to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
The review will also:
- look at how the Act relates to other state, national and international policies and instruments
- look at what we can learn from research on the best ways to improve access and inclusion
- look at what we can learn from other Australian states and territories as well as other countries
- identify if there are any policies or regulations which may be impacted by any of the recommendations
- acknowledge and learn from the reflections and advice that people have already shared, including the many perspectives already shared through the submissions to the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
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