Aussies go independent

Australian parents these days are increasingly sending their children to private schools. Enrollments at ­private schools are up 35 percent in the past decade, according to data released on May 18 by lobby group Independent Schools Australia. From 2012 to 2022, enrollment at Islamic schools doubled and nondenominational Christian schools grew 49 percent, while nonreligious school enrollments rose 38 percent. Religiously affiliated institutions make up 83 percent of all independent schools in Australia.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Australian parents gravitated toward private schools because they adopted remote learning more quickly than public ones. Private school principals say parents also want a more structured learning environment for their kids. Meanwhile, lack of affordable housing within commuting distance of public schools exacerbates teacher shortages, increasing class sizes and making public schools less desirable.

Australia’s private schools receive funding from the government to the tune of over 12,260 Australian dollars (nearly $8,000) per student, compared with a little under AU$21,000 per public school student. With only 65 ­percent of Australian students in public school, the government saves billions of dollars in education costs, while parents contribute an average of AU$5,700 in fees per student at private schools.

A recent Australian Bureau of Statistics report shows private school retention rates leading public school rates by 18 percentage points.

Book removals face scrutiny

The U.S. Department of Education (DOE) has reached a resolution agreement with Forsyth County Schools in Georgia following the district’s removal of nine sexually explicit library books. As part of the agreement, the school district will offer students “supportive measures” and conduct a school climate survey.

Most of the de-shelved books also included minority and LGBT characters. One student who attended a school board meeting claimed he felt fearful at school because of the books’ removal. The DOE Office for Civil Rights said the district created a potentially “hostile environment” for students around ethnicity and sex. Most of the books were returned to the media ­centers’ shelves before the ruling.

The ruling could deter other schools from removing books. A similar ongoing DOE investigation of a Texas school district could potentially require schools ­nationwide to increase their holdings of LGBT titles. —A.L.