Australian schools use technology in classrooms "significantly more" than most high-achieving OECD countries despite little evidence to show it boosts standards, according to a new report which warns that extra Gonski money will not lift results unless it is spent effectively.

A new report by the Centre for Independent Studies says the focus of education policy must shift from "spend more money" to using funding to "invest in cost-effective, evidence-based policies and practices".

Australia invests more in school technology relative to the rest of the world, according to a new report.

This could include interventions for underperforming students, a focus on phonics and more professional development for teachers to help them manage classroom behaviour.

The report, Getting the most out of Gonski 2.0: The evidence base for school investments, says it is "imperative" that the extra $23.5 billion for the federal government's Gonski 2.0 funding plan be spent effectively or else there is a "risk that in 2027, Australia's literacy and numeracy results would have continued to decline despite significantly more government spending".