Clarifying roles#

The Bill seeks to clarify roles and responsibilities across the education system. At the second reading of the Bill, Parliament confirmed the inclusion of the proposal to transfer early childhood education regulatory functions from the Ministry of Education to the Education Review Office (ERO) in the Bill. This includes the provision for the proposal to come into effect on 1 September 2026.

Other key changes in the legislation#

• Establishing the New Zealand School Property Agency to manage the Ministry’s education property portfolio, including planning, building, maintenance, and administration. The Bill provides for this proposal to come into effect on 1 October 2026, or earlier by order in council. 
• Transferring regulatory functions for school hostels and private schools from the Ministry of Education to the ERO. The Bill provides for this proposal to come into effect on 1 September 2026.
• Making changes to the role of the Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand, including transferring professional standard setting functions to the Secretary for Education.

The Bill also seeks to clarify the roles of the Ministry of Education and ERO in responding when a school of serious concern is identified, makes changes to curriculum regulatory settings, and updates attendance exemption rules.

Other proposals#

• Require schools to participate in national and international monitoring studies such as Programme for International Student Assessment.
• Enable micro-credentials to be reported to New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
• Update charter school settings, including enabling a single contract to cover multiple charter schools and providing a pathway for a converted charter school to be replaced by a new state school if the sponsor ends their contract.

Next steps#

The Bill will now progress to the Committee of the Whole House and then third reading.

If the Bill passes its third reading, it will then receive royal assent and become legislation.