SES Better Schools Funding

However, of greatest concern is the expectation of Government that schools will achieve certain policy initiatives and outcomes without providing specifically identified funding. In just one example, the new Australian Government has a policy position to increase the number of Year 12 students completing a language other than English to 40 per cent within the next 10 years. Yet there is no identified funding in the new funding model to promote or support this outcome.

Catering for students with special needs is often a challenge for independent schools. They don't have access to systemic support in many cases and often may only have a small number of students in a particular target group.

Under the current Targeted Programs arrangements, sector authorities (for independent schools, the Associations of Independent Schools) play an important role in supporting schools to deliver improved outcomes for students with special needs. How such support is to be provided to independent schools from 2014 is still being worked out, but if Governments want value for money from their education funding, they will ensure that independent schools are able to access the support required to meet the needs of students.

Many questions remain about whether the Better Schools Plan funding model will be effective in achieving improved student outcomes for all students, but particularly for student with special needs. Time will tell, but if the current poorly devised implementation arrangements are any indication, it will potentially be the shortest lived funding model yet to be used in Australian education. Watch for short-term changes to the funding model as issues emerge, and schools and parents see the reality of education funding in 2014.

The Federal Government should commence work immediately on designing a new funding model that is genuinely less complex and more transparent. It should incorporate the best parts of the Gonski model but also sharply target the special needs of students. Implementation could be as early as 2015 in order to ensure stability and certainty for schools.