❓ Question addresses funding cuts to WA schools with over 1200 students and their impact on staffing, programs, and services. The answer states the Department is unable to directly attribute specific reductions to the per-student funding change due to schools operating with one-line budgets and increased flexibility.
AnsweredQoN 1086Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I
refer to the withdrawal of $1,145 per student from schools with enrolments above
1,200 students, and I ask: (a) have there been any cuts to staffing, programs or services as the result of the reduction of funding; and (b) if yes to (a), please advise the details of: (i) how many staff positions have been cut, and at which schools; (ii) which programs have been cut, and at which schools; and (iii) any other services which have been cut, and at which schools?
refer to the withdrawal of $1,145 per student from schools with enrolments above
1,200 students, and I ask: (a) have there been any cuts to staffing, programs or services as the result of the reduction of funding; and (b) if yes to (a), please advise the details of: (i) how many staff positions have been cut, and at which schools; (ii) which programs have been cut, and at which schools; and (iii) any other services which have been cut, and at which schools?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 May 2018
Responded by
Minister for Education and Training
Response time
8 days
(a) Each school now operates with a one-line budget, which provides greater flexibility to develop educational programs and staffing profiles that best suit the needs of the school community within the school’s budget parameters. This includes decisions related to the type and number of staff they employ and the programs they run. The Department is therefore unable to identify any specific reductions in staffing, programs or services that can be directly attributable to this per-student funding change.
All schools receive a per-student allocation for each student enrolled at the February student census. With increasing enrolments, the total per-student funding amount for large senior high schools was sufficient to meet all fixed costs and to generate economies of scale to enable a significant amount of discretionary funding in comparison to schools with lower enrolments. The reduced per-student allocation once an enrolment threshold is met provides additional funding to large senior high schools, but at a slower rate of growth than for smaller senior high schools.
(b) (i)-(iii) Not applicable.
All schools receive a per-student allocation for each student enrolled at the February student census. With increasing enrolments, the total per-student funding amount for large senior high schools was sufficient to meet all fixed costs and to generate economies of scale to enable a significant amount of discretionary funding in comparison to schools with lower enrolments. The reduced per-student allocation once an enrolment threshold is met provides additional funding to large senior high schools, but at a slower rate of growth than for smaller senior high schools.
(b) (i)-(iii) Not applicable.
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