Journal Article

Schooling for equitable excellence: principles of systemic design

Eacott, Scott

2023

Overview

PurposeEducation is a key institution of modern society, long recognized for its central role in the reproduction of inequities and with the potential to challenge them. Schools behave as their systems are designed. Achieving equity and excellence is not possible through attempts to fix “the school” or educators. Principles of systemic design that incorporate equity and excellence are needed to increase the likelihood of desirable outcomes.Design/methodology/approachUsing the social contract as a design principle, this paper systematically builds an empirical model of school provision aimed at equitable excellence.FindingsEquitable excellence in school provision is possible if choice is available across geolocation and socio-educational (dis)advantage, schools have autonomy over fiscal, personnel and curricular matters, public accountability is linked to academic outcomes and social impact, all moderated by the quality of teaching.Research limitations/implicationsData-driven empirical modelling is particularly attractive to policy makers, systemic authorities and researchers when theory (of all varieties) does not yield the necessary insights to support the functionality and effectiveness of systems to deliver equitable outcomes at scale. Empirical examples can be used to test the explanatory power of the novel model – and refine it when necessary.Practical implicationsThe empirical model and threshold question are the genesis of a common language for assessing relevant costs and benefits of initiatives for government and system designers. Significantly, establishing a threshold question and tests of legitimacy and strength to accompany the novel model provides a more principled way of prioritizing the competing demands on public investment in education.Originality/valueEstablishing a threshold question and tests for legitimacy and strength to accompany the novel model provides a more principled way of prioritizing the competing demands to accompany.

• Publisher: Emerald Publishing Limited,Emerald Group Publishing Limited
• Subject: Accountability / Benchmarking / Case Studies / Cost Effectiveness / Data Analysis / Design / Education policy / Educational administration / Educational leadership / Educational Policy / Educational Quality / Elementary Secondary Education / Equal Education / Equity / Foreign Countries / Geographic Location / Individualism / Individualized Instruction / Institutional Autonomy / Instructional Design / Instructional Leadership / Outcomes of Education / Policy Formation / Principles / Private Schools / Public Schools / School Choice / School systems / Society / Socioeconomic Status / Systems Approach / Systems design / Teaching / Theory Practice Relationship