Carl-Gustaf Stawström

Swedish Association of Independent Schools

Swedish education system

Intro

Since 1992 Compulsory and upper secondary

schools School choice for all Increased diversity Competition for quality Steady increase in schools and pupils

in ind. schools

Schools - Compulsory school

709 schools 15% of all small schools

Schools - Upper secondary school 458 schools 47 % of all Small schools

School types – Comp.

Types 5% Waldorf 9% Religious 86% ”Regular”

50 % profiled towardssubject, language or teaching method

Pupils - Compulsory school

96 000 pupils 11% of all + 25% in 5 years

Students - Upper secondary school 86 000 students 22% of all + 100% in 5 years

Type of organisation

Swedish Association ofIndependent Schools

Voluntarily 900 schools / 500 operators 350 preschool 500 compulsory schools 250 upper secondary school Small units and large chains

Swedish Association ofIndependent Schools

Guidence & Advice Information & Education Influence politics and public opinion

Legislation

Parliamentary bill on a new Act of Education

Common regulatory framework/same rules for both public and independent schools

Decision of the Riksdag (parliament) in June 2010, come into force July 2011

Legislation Today: independent schools have a

regulatory system of their own with only a few paragraphs, but are compared to the public school system and rules for public schools.

Independent schools must be on the same level (quality) as and correspond to the public school and give the pupils equal conditions(This actually means the same framework and legislation)

Legislation Act of Education – a special chapter

for independent schools (in other respects the comparison to public schools)

Ordinance for Independent schools National curriculum for the

compulsory school system (and non-compulsory)

National syllabi

Legislation

National legislation rules the schools, both public and independent. Decisions about curriculum and syllabi are made by the Riksdag (parliament) and the Regering (government)

Municipalities in Sweden are responsible for the public schools and have to see to that there are schooling possibilities for every pupil in the municipality. This includes all school forms, from pre-school to upper secondary schools

Requirements for independent schools

Independent schools must apply for license, approval from the Swedish Schools Inspectorate

Must be open to everyone (no possibility of choosing pupils)

Are not allowed to charge fees The same basic objectives as a

municipal (public) school

Requirements May have a special profile, as a

teaching approach or method, or a specific religious character, but must teach according to national syllabi

Must provide for pupils who need extra resources (children with physical or mental handicaps and children with learning and behavioural difficulties)

Must give grades according to national syllabi and guidelines (exceptions for some schools, as Waldorf)

Approval of Independent schools Application to the Swedish Schools

Inspectorate Examination of the organiser’s ability to

run the school from a long-term perspective

No causing of considerable negative consequenses for the municipal schools

Examination of the correspondancy to municipal schools in objectives and the pupils right to equal learning conditions

Approval of IndependentSchools The Swedish Schools Inspectorate’s

decision of approval includes two parts:- an approval of the ability to run an independent school- a right to be financed by the municipality – a voucher

Supervision and inspection

Independent schools, as public schools, are under the supervision of the Swedish Schools Inspectorate

Regular supervision with visits and inspections of the actual school.

An inspection always results in a decision, such as which measures to take or action required by the authority/party responsible for the school.

Supervision and inspection

The Inspectorate also investigate complaints filed by pupils, parents or others. The Inspectorate may criticize the authority/party in charge of the school and demand measures to remedy the situation

For independent schools, inspection or investigation of complaints could also result in a decision to withdraw the school’s license to operate or it’s right to receive subsidies.

Financing

The voucher system:

A compulsory transfer payment according to the Act of Education

The municipality where the pupil lives is responsible for financing the voucher

Equal terms for public and independent schools

Financing

The municipality must provide resources to the independent school equivalent to those provided to its own schools

On a per-pupil basis Extra resources for pupils with extra

needs The independent school have the right to

file complaints on the voucher sum, if it’s not calculated on basis of equal terms

Financing

Fees are generally not allowed

Sponsoring is allowed, as long as it’s not directed to an individual pupil