Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts Australian Capital Territory Consolidated Acts(1) The Minister may establish government schools and preschools ( government schools ).
(2) The Minister may decide the kinds of government schools to be established and the educational level or levels for the schools.
(3) The Minister may establish school-related educational institutions and services ( school-related institutions ).
Example of school-related institution
Hindmarsh Education Centre
Note An example is part of the Act, is not exhaustive and may extend, but does not limit, the meaning of the provision in which it appears (see Legislation Act, s 126 and s 132).
(4) The Minister may name, and change the name of, a government school or school-related institution.
(5) Before closing or amalgamating a government school, the Minister must—
(a) have regard to the educational, financial and social impact on students at the school, the students' families and the general school community; and
(b) ensure that school communities affected by the closure or amalgamation have been adequately consulted during a period of at least 6 months.
(6) To ensure that school communities affected by closing or amalgamating a government school are adequately consulted, the Minister must, before a decision is made on the proposal—
(a) tell the school communities about the proposal; and
(b) listen to, and consider, their views.
(7) The consultation must be done in a way that gives effect to the following principles:
(a) consultation should focus on access to, and the provision of, quality educational opportunities;
(b) consultation should be open and transparent;
(c) consultation should lead to sustainable decisions by involving effective community engagement;
(d) without limiting paragraph (c), consultation should ensure that—
(i) relevant information is provided in a timely and accessible way to enable maximum community participation in debate about the proposal; and
(ii) opportunities are provided for feedback about the proposal, especially from families and other people with significant interest in the proposal;
(e) consultation should include seeking the views of school boards that are likely to be affected by the proposal.