Deciding factors: Do factors beyond achievement influence teachers’ student placement decisions?

Abstract

Since teachers' decisions potentially have consequences for learners' future educational and life opportunities, it is imperative to determine the basis of teachers' decision-making in order to determine whether it is discriminatory. This study combines qualitative and quantitative methods towards a multi-school, multi-region study of Australian teachers in order to consider if student placement decisions made about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learners are influenced by factors beyond academic ability.