School reform is squarely on the national agenda as Australia’s education ministers negotiate a fix to persistent funding shortfalls for public schools. But extra funding won’t address our education woes unless governments set much higher expectations for results, and follow through on the school reforms needed to deliver them.

In no other area of education is this work more urgent than reading. Reading proficiency is a foundational skill that unlocks the broader curriculum and empowers young people to grasp opportunities for themselves and their communities.