Background paper: New approaches to persistent problems in Australia's schools

The Mitchell Institute background paper was provided to panel members and forum participants as pre-reading for the Mitchell Institute New approaches to persistent problems policy forum held in November 2013.

The background paper looks at existing data and research to provide a snapshot of the:

• economic and social benefits of education

• context for education reform in Australia

• levels of government investment in education over the past decade

• data relating to school disengagement and socioeconomic status.

The paper argues for increased investment in the early years, and looks at the challenges of proposed funding formulas.