Regulatory Constraints on Public Sector Innovation: A Case Study on Queensland's Independent Public Schools Program

Abstract

Innovation is essential to the improvement of public sector services, yet restrictive regulations may constrain this process. This paper draws on the school autonomy literature to advance our understanding of the effect of regulatory constraints on public sector innovation, using Queensland’s Independent Public Schools (IPS) program as a case study and example of regulatory change. The IPS program commenced operation in 2013. Schools are accepted into the program through an expression of interest application. Application forms require individual schools to outline the ‘innovative educational programs or practices’ the school will be able to implement if it is accepted as an IPS (Innovation Question). A textual content analysis was undertaken of the Innovation Question for a total of 127 successful applications in the 2013, 2014 and 2015 rounds. Coding was developed based on the Schumpeterian forms of innovation. Overall the results show that the Queensland IPS initiative will foster innovation according to principal’s perceptions about the innovative practices that they will be able to implement as an IPS. The paper finds that the current centralised service delivery model is constraining innovation with respect to staffing flexibility, school partnerships, leasing and licensing of facilities and in managing school buildings, facilities and infrastructure.

Keywords: education innovation, independent public schools, public sector innovation, regulation, school autonomy

JEL Classification: I21, I28, O38, H40