Charter schools in New Zealand, also known as partnership schools or kura hourua in te reo Māori, were schools that received government funding similar to state schools but were subject to fewer rules and regulations from the Ministry of Education.[1] They were free and open for any students to attend. Charter schools had the autonomy to set their own curriculum, qualifications, pay rates for teachers, school-hours and school terms. The schools were operated by sponsors such as Māori Iwi, not-for-profit organisations, businesses or existing education providers.[1]
Charter schools were legalised after an agreement between the National Party and their confidence and supply partner ACT New Zealand following the 2011 general election. In October 2012, the Education Amendment Bill creating charter schools passed with a five-vote majority.[2] The charter school model was heavily criticized by a wide range of educational authorities, teacher organizations, the general public and political parties who vowed to overturn it.[3][4][5] Opposition to charter schools formed part of the Labour Party's education policy in the 2014 and 2017 general elections.[6][7]
In late October 2017, the newly formed Labour-led coalition government announced that it would be abolishing charter schools.[8] This announcement triggered mixed responses. Teaching unions supported the new Government's decision, while charter schools and the opposition National and ACT parties opposed the announcement.[9][10][11] In response to protests, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that charter schools could convert to "special character" schools.[12][13] By September 2018, all twelve remaining charter schools had successfully transitioned to become state-integrated schools.[14]
On November 24 2023, the newly formed National/ACT/NZ First coalition government made a pledge to reinstate charter schools in New Zealand, marking a shift in education policy direction.[15][16]
^ abCite error: The named reference nh-2011 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^"Education Amendment Bill - New Zealand Parliament". www.parliament.nz. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
^Stuart, Lynda (18 May 2017). "Charter schools: the case against". The Spinoff. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^"Charter schools: an update". Post Primary Teachers' Association. Archived from the original on 8 April 2017. Retrieved 8 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Wiener, Julia (27 March 2017). "Election 2017 – Party Policies – Education – Charter Schools". Interest.co.nz. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Macartney, Bernadette (September 2014). "Opinion piece on Labour's Education Policy 2014 and progress towards an inclusive education system" (PDF). Retrieved 16 November 2022.
^Moir, Jo (21 July 2017). "Labour promises to scrap national standards and review NCEA if in government". Stuff. Retrieved 16 November 2022.
^Collins, Simon (30 October 2017). "Labour's education plans revealed: Primary school league tables axed, big NCEA shakeup". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2017.
^Robinson, Liz. "Charter school removal a great day for students, teachers and parents". Post Primary Teachers' Association. Archived from the original on 11 February 2018. Retrieved 8 March 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
^Collins, Simon (7 March 2018). "Charter schools at odds over Chris Hipkins' plans to abolish them". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Walters, Laura (20 February 2018). "National complains to Auditor-General about Government's handling of partnership school issue". Stuff. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Trevett, Claire (12 February 2018). "PM says compromise will help charter schools to convert rather than close". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Boynton, John (14 February 2018). "Māori charter schools safe – Labour's Māori MPs". Radio New Zealand. Retrieved 8 March 2018.
^Bracewell-Worrall, Anna (17 September 2018). "All NZ charter schools now approved to become state integrated". Newshub. Archived from the original on 7 December 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2019.
^National, Act and NZ First leaders sign the coalition agreement | nzherald.co.nz, retrieved 24 November 2023
^Quinlivan, Mark (24 November 2023). "Election 2023: National, ACT and NZ First's Coalition agreement". Newshub. Archived from the original on 24 November 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
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