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State schools in Australia are run by their respective state governments and offer free education. In the United States and Canada, state schools are also known as public schools. These are schools mandated for or offered to all children by the government or an institution of civil government and are funded in part or in whole by state taxes.

There are two categories of state schools in the country: open and selective. Open schools accept all students from a government-defined catchment areas and teach using a curriculum in formal schooling set by the state's Education Department. On the other hand, selective schools are considered to be more prestigious than open schools because of the high entrance requirements. Entrance to a selective school is highly competitive and applicants will mostly vie for a spot.

Curriculum in formal schooling means that it is a set of courses and course work that is offered at an educational institution that is partly or entirely determined by an external authoritative body such as each state and territory's education departments. The each institution's curriculum is established with plans for a National Curriculum in 2011.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is the government agency that leads the country's education and workplace training as well as transition to work. It collaborates with the different government agencies with the states and territories to provide easy access to educational services and support programs to the Australian people. It also aims to increase workforce participation and promote fair work practices in Australia.

Tips for choosing the best school for your children

• Choose a school based on leadership instead of choosing whether public or private. If the leadership of the school is good, then you can expect the best service and education for your children.
• The school must share the same values as your family. Consider the policies in place regarding behavior, punctuality and dress codes.
• Does the school provide opportunities for growth other than in academics. A school must also provide extra-curricular activities that would hone the skills and talents of the child.
• The school must have a procedure regarding disciplinary issues that would support the child.
• It is important for a school to have a Parent Teacher Association to foster interaction between students and other members of the community.
• A good school does not enforce a single religion or ideal to the students, instead it promotes the growth of open-minded students who are interested in learning about spirituality.
• The school must have activities and projects that help the community for the child to develop empathy and a sense of social justice.
• Consider the costs of sending your child to a particular school and see if you can afford them.
• Choose a school that is near your home so as not to waste the time spent on travelling to and from school. If there is no other option, try to make the travel time fun and exciting for the child.