Mr. Wyatt questions the delay in ATAS funding for years 11 and 12, highlighting outdated information on the Department of Education's website. Dr. Constable clarifies the funding source and promises to investigate the delay.

AnsweredQoN 168Legislative Assembly
Asked
24 March 2011
Portfolio
Education

QuestionView source ↗

ABORIGINAL TUTORIAL ASSISTANCE SCHEME
I refer to the Department of Education’s website information in relation to the Aboriginal tutorial assistance scheme—ATAS—and the note that a decision on upper secondary ATAS funding is “pending”. (1) How long has this funding decision been pending? (2) If the funding is still pending, and there is currently no ATAS funding available for years 11 and 12, when will the minister finally make a decision? (3) If the decision has been made, when was it made, what was that decision and why is the Department of Education’s website displaying outdated information? Dr E. CONSTABLE

AnswerView source ↗

(1)–(3) This is another important question on National Closing the Gap Day about the education of Aboriginal children. I understand that there are three parts to the ATAS funding. Primary students who are falling below the minimum standards in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy testing in years 4 to 6 receive teaching alongside students in groups of five in their classrooms with a special teacher. There is also funding for lower secondary, for years 8 to 10, and the funding for both of those groups has come through. This is commonwealth funding, and I understand that it is the commonwealth funding that has not come through at this point for years 11 and 12. Over 200 schools are involved in this commonwealth scheme, which provides targeted assistance for Aboriginal students who are falling behind. It is worth knowing that at senior secondary level, students in the Follow the Dream mentoring program receive this ATAS funding as well. I also understand that the funding has increased from 32 weeks a year to 40 weeks a year so that it covers the whole school year. I will look into why that funding has not come through, but it is commonwealth funding that we are referring to.
(1) How long has this funding decision been pending? (2) If the funding is still pending, and there is currently no ATAS funding available for years 11 and 12, when will the minister finally make a decision? (3) If the decision has been made, when was it made, what was that decision and why is the Department of Education’s website displaying outdated information? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) This is another important question on National Closing the Gap Day about the education of Aboriginal children. I understand that there are three parts to the ATAS funding. Primary students who are falling below the minimum standards in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy testing in years 4 to 6 receive teaching alongside students in groups of five in their classrooms with a special teacher. There is also funding for lower secondary, for years 8 to 10, and the funding for both of those groups has come through. This is commonwealth funding, and I understand that it is the commonwealth funding that has not come through at this point for years 11 and 12. Over 200 schools are involved in this commonwealth scheme, which provides targeted assistance for Aboriginal students who are falling behind. It is worth knowing that at senior secondary level, students in the Follow the Dream mentoring program receive this ATAS funding as well. I also understand that the funding has increased from 32 weeks a year to 40 weeks a year so that it covers the whole school year. I will look into why that funding has not come through, but it is commonwealth funding that we are referring to.
(2) If the funding is still pending, and there is currently no ATAS funding available for years 11 and 12, when will the minister finally make a decision? (3) If the decision has been made, when was it made, what was that decision and why is the Department of Education’s website displaying outdated information? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) This is another important question on National Closing the Gap Day about the education of Aboriginal children. I understand that there are three parts to the ATAS funding. Primary students who are falling below the minimum standards in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy testing in years 4 to 6 receive teaching alongside students in groups of five in their classrooms with a special teacher. There is also funding for lower secondary, for years 8 to 10, and the funding for both of those groups has come through. This is commonwealth funding, and I understand that it is the commonwealth funding that has not come through at this point for years 11 and 12. Over 200 schools are involved in this commonwealth scheme, which provides targeted assistance for Aboriginal students who are falling behind. It is worth knowing that at senior secondary level, students in the Follow the Dream mentoring program receive this ATAS funding as well. I also understand that the funding has increased from 32 weeks a year to 40 weeks a year so that it covers the whole school year. I will look into why that funding has not come through, but it is commonwealth funding that we are referring to.
(3) If the decision has been made, when was it made, what was that decision and why is the Department of Education’s website displaying outdated information? Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) This is another important question on National Closing the Gap Day about the education of Aboriginal children. I understand that there are three parts to the ATAS funding. Primary students who are falling below the minimum standards in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy testing in years 4 to 6 receive teaching alongside students in groups of five in their classrooms with a special teacher. There is also funding for lower secondary, for years 8 to 10, and the funding for both of those groups has come through. This is commonwealth funding, and I understand that it is the commonwealth funding that has not come through at this point for years 11 and 12. Over 200 schools are involved in this commonwealth scheme, which provides targeted assistance for Aboriginal students who are falling behind. It is worth knowing that at senior secondary level, students in the Follow the Dream mentoring program receive this ATAS funding as well. I also understand that the funding has increased from 32 weeks a year to 40 weeks a year so that it covers the whole school year. I will look into why that funding has not come through, but it is commonwealth funding that we are referring to.
Dr E. CONSTABLE replied: (1)–(3) This is another important question on National Closing the Gap Day about the education of Aboriginal children. I understand that there are three parts to the ATAS funding. Primary students who are falling below the minimum standards in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy testing in years 4 to 6 receive teaching alongside students in groups of five in their classrooms with a special teacher. There is also funding for lower secondary, for years 8 to 10, and the funding for both of those groups has come through. This is commonwealth funding, and I understand that it is the commonwealth funding that has not come through at this point for years 11 and 12. Over 200 schools are involved in this commonwealth scheme, which provides targeted assistance for Aboriginal students who are falling behind. It is worth knowing that at senior secondary level, students in the Follow the Dream mentoring program receive this ATAS funding as well. I also understand that the funding has increased from 32 weeks a year to 40 weeks a year so that it covers the whole school year. I will look into why that funding has not come through, but it is commonwealth funding that we are referring to.
(1)–(3) This is another important question on National Closing the Gap Day about the education of Aboriginal children. I understand that there are three parts to the ATAS funding. Primary students who are falling below the minimum standards in National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy testing in years 4 to 6 receive teaching alongside students in groups of five in their classrooms with a special teacher. There is also funding for lower secondary, for years 8 to 10, and the funding for both of those groups has come through. This is commonwealth funding, and I understand that it is the commonwealth funding that has not come through at this point for years 11 and 12. Over 200 schools are involved in this commonwealth scheme, which provides targeted assistance for Aboriginal students who are falling behind. It is worth knowing that at senior secondary level, students in the Follow the Dream mentoring program receive this ATAS funding as well. I also understand that the funding has increased from 32 weeks a year to 40 weeks a year so that it covers the whole school year. I will look into why that funding has not come through, but it is commonwealth funding that we are referring to.

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