HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION | A FAIR GO FOR A L L ? Factors for success Through the interview process, several key factors were identified that made Te Kotahitanga effective at addressing student achievement and educational inequalities: 1. Tailoring programmes and initiatives to the specific needs of Mäori students, and making these initiatives visible at all levels of the school 2. Ongoing evaluation measures 3. Developing communities of practice through “coconstruction” and regular meetings with other teachers across subject areas to discuss Mäori student achievement 4. Effective communication and engagement with parents and whänau, with ongoing parent and whänau involvement and participation in school life 5. Consultation with Mäori staff and whänau 6. Support from school leadership teams and boards of trustees. Sustainability While the Ministry of Education firmly supports the Te Kotahitanga programme, its sustainability depends on inter-agency support and a cultural shift in how such intervention programmes are designed and implemented. While the programme is bottom-up in its approach and process, it needs to be met by a top-down commitment. Thus the sustainability of both the programme and its underlying principles depend on support from school leadership (principals, boards of trustees). In order for the programme to achieve sustainability, experience in implementing Te Kotahitanga indicates that it is critical to reach a “tipping point” where the majority of teachers understand the Te Kotahitanga principles: it’s not about reaching a set number of schools, because turnover in schools can be high. Rather, it’s about re-culturing teachers and principals and shifting notions of ‘this is the way we do things around here’. 33