Schools’ planning and reporting rules change
Schools will have different planning and reporting rules, but the title does not show what families will notice.
Education (School Planning and Reporting) Amendment Regulations 2026
What's changing
- School boards must set at least 3 strategic goals in each strategic plan.
- At least 1 goal must cover reading, writing, mathematics, pānui, tuhituhi, or pāngarau.
- Progress measures and annual targets must use students’ assessment or aromatawai results.
- Annual reports must explain responses to Education Review Office improvement recommendations.
- Annual reports must assess support for students not meeting curriculum expectations.
Who's affected
School boards and schools will be affected, with reporting and planning also concerning students and their whānau.
When
The changes take effect on 15 October 2026.
What you might need to do
- School boards must update their strategic plans to include at least 3 goals, including an educational achievement goal.
- School boards must use relevant student assessment results when setting and reviewing achievement goals and annual targets.
- School boards must include the required information in their annual reports.
Background
These regulations change the school planning and reporting requirements that apply to school boards. The Ministry of Education prepared a regulatory impact statement to inform the Government’s policy decisions about the changes.