Institutions of Public Education

Abstract

This chapter begins by providing an overview of the rationale for the public provision of education. We confine our study to primary and secondary education. A brief historical account of public education in Australia is offered – which shows that, in a broad sense, institutional possibilities in place today have largely remained unchanged over the last centre – and an initial IPF is constructed. Two case studies are examined to provide insight into the barriers to the creation and destruction phases of innovation within the context of public education. First, we analyse Queensland’s Independent Public Schools (IPS) program using a unique dataset and make findings about the perceived barriers to creation. Second, we consider the “Schools of the Future” reforms in Victoria between 1992-1996 and identify mechanisms of destruction and how it is constrained. A second IPF is constructed. Our focus then turns to the United States, where the differences between charter schools and voucher programs are detailed – using District of Columbia laws to see how these theoretical possibilities have been made concrete in legislation – and briefly consider the institutional possibility of for-profit schools. The chapter concludes by constructing a final IPF.