Australian Reports

Review of Funding for Schooling – Final Report

Schools would receive a set dollar amount of funding per student under a proposed new national funding regime.

The final report of the federal Review of Funding for Schools suggests a new Schooling Resource Standard be established that would apply across the public and private sectors.

The new report says Australian Governments must spend more money on schools with high numbers of disadvantaged students.

The Gonski Report, which follows a two-year review, says student performance is significantly impacted by socio-economic status, poor English skills and disability.

The report says schools with high numbers of disadvantaged and indigenous students require additional resources, and governments must prioritise support for the nation's lowest performing students.

It also suggests $8000 per primary student and $10 500 per secondary student as a starting point.

Public schools would be fully publicly funded under the standard, while there would be a minimum public contribution to non-government schools of up to 25 per cent of the standard per student.

Schools would receive a set dollar amount of funding per student under a proposed new national funding regime.

The final report of the federal Review of Funding for Schools suggests a new Schooling Resource Standard be established that would apply across the public and private sectors.

It urges a measurement to establish the level of private resources “a school is likely to be capable of raising for itself''' as opposed to the amount it actually raises.

The review recommends a “schooling resource standard” of funding for all of Australia's 9468 schools and 3.5 million full-time students.

The review suggests that all schools be guaranteed funding for around 20 to 25 per cent of its needs, with a minimum of 10 per cent to come from outside contributions.

Schools would also receive a loading if they taught pupils with disabilities; provided assistance for children with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties; had a majority of indigenous pupils; or were sole education providers in a remote area.

See attached full report with key recommendations for your information.