ABSTRACT
This chapter draws attention to concerns expressed by key education stakeholders about the negative equity implications of school autonomy reform when it is driven by market imperatives. Stakeholders expressed their view that school autonomy could be mobilised in positive ways for equity when sufficiently resourced by centralised state and federal authorities and supported at regional levels. However, they also highlighted key problems such as resourcing which failed to adequately recognise (i) how principals (especially those with a lack of experience) were not adequately supported to manage the responsibilities and pressures of greater school autonomy and accountability and (ii) how particular schools (especially small schools and schools in rural, remote and disadvantaged areas), despite the availability of additional centralised support, were struggling with the processes and expectations of this reform to improve student learning. The chapter argues for the significance of greater centralised and regional support in these areas.
