A push by a federal Coalition government to turn public schools into independent schools could impose a heavy burden on staff and parents and lead to a "two-tiered" government system, according to an alliance of parent groups in NSW.

The presidents of six Parents and Citizens Association district councils have written a joint letter to federal Coalition MPs seeking urgent detail on one of their key education policies – to "encourage state schools to choose to become independent schools".

Keen on the Western Australia model: Christopher Pyne. Credit:Andrew Meares

Opposition education spokesman Christopher Pyne has said he would like to see other states pursue a model similar to that in Western Australia, where the government has created a category called "independent public schools".

In WA, schools can apply to become an IPS, giving them autonomy over budgets and staffing and more discretion over the curriculum. They are managed partly by a school board, remain publicly funded and cannot charge compulsory fees.