All school sectors are set to be impacted by significant amendments to the Education Act which are partially in response to the unfair exclusion of two children from a high-profile Canberra private school.
The Education Amendment Bill 2022 introduced to the Legislative Assembly on Thursday would move to overhaul the ACT's registration process for non-government schools from a five-year registration period to ongoing registration with a risk-based review processes.
The bill outlines standards for non-government schools with respect to governance, educational programs, safety and welfare and other requirements.
The changes stem from two recommendations made by the ACT Human Rights Commission which investigated a complaint that two children were excluded from Brindabella Christian College after their parents raised concerns over the school's governance.
The amendments would create a registration standards advisory board to oversee the new registration process.
The new system would allow for a program of annual school reviews but a review could also be initiated if a concern is raised over a school not complying with the Education Act.
"The report by the Human Rights Commission, alongside provisions identified for update has resulted in a complete review of the non-government schools' registration, review and compliance processes," the explanatory statement reads.
The proposed legislation also clarifies the definition and use of suspension, transfer, exclusion and expulsion of students across all school systems.
It also would require principals to report if a child had unenrolled or moved schools in a student movement register within five days.
This would be aimed at keeping track of vulnerable students, in line with recommendations from the coronial inquest into the death of Bradyn Stuart Dillon.
