Local Authority Compensatory Policy

The introduction in the Netherlands of the Municipal Compensatory Policy (Education) Act on 1 August 1998 made the former educational priority policy a responsibility of local authorities. The intention is that the educational compensatory policy should be developed and implemented at local level in the coming years in collaboration with school boards.

The predominant argument for the decentralisation of the educational compensatory policy is that combating educational disadvantage requires a customised approach. The municipal compensatory policy lays the basis for this customised approach. The ultimate aim is that all school pupils, including those from socially disadvantaged groups, should be able to develop their talents to the full.

The Netherlands Institute for Social Research/SCP was commissioned by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science to carry out a study of the policy process driving the municipal educational disadvantage policy.

This study provides an impression of how the policy has been put into practice at local level. Based on a survey of local authorities, it presents an overview of the current status of the municipal educational compensatory policy, shortly after the new Act came into force. Information was gathered on the number of local authorities implementing an educational compensatory policy, the current phase of its implementation and the practical form given to the policy at local level. Based on the substantive choices made by local authorities and the administrative and organisational structure chosen, different policy types are identified.

This substantive and administrative typology of the municipal educational compensatory policy forms the first part of the study.