Foreword

They and their parents and caregivers deserve the very best support we can provide so that they can participate and achieve – not just in education, but in society, and not just while they are at school, but for the rest of their lives.

I have had many parents, caregivers, sector groups and principals tell me things need fixing, there is more we should be doing and that there are attitudes that need to change. I have been moved and concerned over some of what I have heard and I am determined to find ways that we can do better. The Review of Special Education – and this document – is an important step in that direction.

The Government’s commitment to special education is demonstrated by the additional funding we have recently made available for expanding the support for students with high and very high needs and for special education school property. However, in these difficult economic times we must consider how we can do better with what we have, rather than expecting that there will be more money in the future to address problems.

Some of the most important proposals in this paper relate to ensuring that there is genuine choice about how students with special education needs are supported. Others relate to creating more flexibility in how funds are used and made available to support the needs of students. There are also proposals regarding how we can increase accountability for outcomes so that parents and caregivers and the Government have a better sense of what students are achieving and what further changes we need to make to the system. Your response to this discussion document will be given careful consideration and will contribute to the decisions that will be made.

I urge you to consider this document and provide your comments on its ideas. Together we can make changes that will ensure that all students receive the very best support possible so they can participate and achieve.

Hon Heather Roy
Associate Minister of Education
January 2010