Education Directorate

We are responsible for ACT public schools from preschool to year 12 and specialist schools.

What we do

We deliver public education for children and young people in the ACT. Our mission is to offer excellent, fair and equitable education. We want all students to feel safe, valued and supported to thrive.

We have 93 public schools across the ACT that offer high quality education to more than 50,000 students including:

We also:

regulate education service providers and register non-government schools
employ ACT teachers and non-teaching staff
recognise excellence in public education through the Public Education Awards.

Our structure

View the Education Directorate’s organisational chart [PDF 414 KB].

Strategies and action plans

The Future of Education Strategy: our plan for education in the ACT.
Set up for Success: An Early Childhood Strategy for the ACT: our plan for early childhood education and care.
Inclusive Education: A Disability Inclusion Strategy for ACT Public Schools 2024—2034: our plan to help schools meet the needs of students who need extra support in their learning.
Language Education Action Plan: our plan to support language education in schools.
Safety and Wellbeing Strategy 2024-26: our plan to keep everyone safe and well.
Principals’ Wellbeing Fund Action Plan 2025-26: our plan to support the health and wellbeing of principals.

Committees and boards

School boards: a formal way for parents, carers, students and the community to be involved in shaping the direction of the school.
ACT Teacher Quality Institute (TQI) Board: an independent statutory authority to build the professional standing of all ACT teachers.
ACT Board of Senior Secondary Studies: an independent statutory authority that certifies secondary school studies in government and non-government schools.
Registration Standards Advisory Board: manages the non-government School Registration Standards.

Expert panel

An independent expert panel [PDF 123 KB] has provided the ACT Government advice on ACT public school funding through the ACT Public School System Resourcing Review final report [PDF 2.55MB].
Community and stakeholder input was sought on a Consultation Paper in late 2025.
The report provides advice to inform a future operating model for the Education Directorate including considering functions and responsibilities that are best delivered at system level and school level. It will also inform school budgeting processes.
Read the ACT Government’s interim response: Future of Education: One public education system [PDF 387kB]

Listening reports

Listening Report on ACT Public School Budget Insights 2025 [PDF 174 KB] is a summary of principal and business manager feedback on system-wide budget cost pressures.
Minister’s Roundtable on Child Safety in early childhood [PDF 335 KB]. Throughout August and October 2025, four forums were convened to foster meaningful engagement across the ECEC sector. These sessions brought together a diverse range of stakeholders, including peak bodies, early childhood educators, and parents and carers from across the ACT. This was an opportunity to provide a collaborative platform for participants to share experiences and voice concerns on strengthening child safety and improving sector-wide practices.
OSHC Minister's Roundtable on Child Safety [PDF 140 KB] is a summary of the discussions had during the May 2026 Minister Round Table Forum on Child Safety for the Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) sector. The forum highlighted the sector’s professionalism, the importance of active supervision, strong leadership, as well as workforce challenges such as recruitment, retention, and career pathways.

Reports

ACT Early Childhood Education and Care Demand and Supply Analysis
[PDF 316kB]

Grants and funding

Future of Education Equity Fund: offers funding to low-income Canberra families to cover costs associated with schooling.

Contact us

ACT Education Directorate

Complete our online form or use our contact details below.

Call
02 6205 5429

Post
ACT Education Directorate
GPO Box 158
Canberra
ACT 2601

Enquiries, feedback and complaints

Help us improve our schools and services. We want to hear about your experience with the Education Directorate and ACT public schools.

Give us feedback or make a complaint.

Report serious misconduct

You can report serious issues in a government department or school, a funded organisation, or a contractor or volunteer working on one of our projects.

Public interest disclosure

You can report serious issues like misuse of funds, neglect of duties, or danger to public health, safety, or the environment. A law called the Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012 protects people who speak up, helping to keep government honest and fair.

Learn how to make a public interest disclosure.

Reportable conduct

The Reportable Conduct Scheme helps protect children in selected ACT organisations. It covers serious misconduct by employees, carers, or volunteers working with children. To keep children safe, organisations must report concerns.

Learn what needs to be reported and how to make a conduct report.