A NEW schools funding estimator is set to help Far Northern parents, teachers, principals and school communities see exactly how they stand to benefit from the Coalition Government’s new $18.6 billion needs-based schools funding plan that was detailed in last night’s Federal Budget.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said the new online estimator showed that schools across the local area would benefit from a funding increase of more than $510 million between 2017 and 2027.
“We’re delivering the real ‘Gonski’ needs-based funding model that Labor didn’t,” Mr Entsch said. “This new estimator will give parents, teachers and principals the information they need about our needs-based funding plan to make long-term plans for the future of each child and each school.
“Our plan invests an additional $510,192,200 of needs-based funding into Leichhardt schools over the next ten years, and there are some that will see increases in the tens of millions of dollars. We’re delivering long-term funding certainty for schools and communities and ensuring everybody is treated fairly and equitably.
“Our plan factors in the background, family life, levels of disability and socioeconomic status of each student and school to ensure funding is truly needs-based and fair.
“Everyone can see for themselves exactly how our plan will benefit their school by visiting education.gov.au/qualityschools and clicking through to the Schools Funding Estimator.”
Minister for Education and Training Simon Birmingham said the Turnbull Government’s plan would transform Australian schools.
“Our plan will set students on the path to academic excellence and achieve real needs-based funding for students from all backgrounds, in every town and city, in every region and state, in every classroom,” Minister Birmingham said.
“Our changes will ensure all schools and states transition to an equal Commonwealth share of the resource standard in a decade, unlike the 150 years of inequity that the current arrangements Labor left us with.
“We’ve been open and upfront all along that more than 9,000 schools are set to receive significant funding boosts according to their need but that also means some schools will have their funding levels frozen or reduced.
“While we know a strong level of funding for schools is vital, what’s more important is how that funding is used.
“That’s why we’ve asked David Gonski to lead a new inquiry into improving the results of Australian students. He’ll be focused not on how much funding there is, but how it’s used through the most effective teaching and learning strategies to reverse declining results and to raise the performance of schools and students.
“Our reforms will set our schools up for the future and deliver fair, needs-based funding for all Australian students.”
For further details of the Turnbull Government’s Quality Schools reform package are available at: www.education.gov.au/qualityschools
