❓ Hon Sue Ellery questions the Minister for Education regarding the use of Commonwealth funding in WA public schools during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 financial years, specifically focusing on funding targeted at disadvantaged students. The Minister's response outlines how funds are pooled and allocated across various programs.
AnsweredQoN 1295Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS —
PUBLIC — FUNDING
1295. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
(1) How has
commonwealth funding provided to the WA public school sector in the 2014–15
and 2015–16 financial years been used?
(2) Has
commonwealth funding provided to the WA public school sector in the 2014–15
and 2015–16 financial years been targeted at addressing disadvantaged
students?
PUBLIC — FUNDING
1295. Hon SUE ELLERY to the
Minister for Education:
(1) How has
commonwealth funding provided to the WA public school sector in the 2014–15
and 2015–16 financial years been used?
(2) Has
commonwealth funding provided to the WA public school sector in the 2014–15
and 2015–16 financial years been targeted at addressing disadvantaged
students?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question
(1)–(2)
The commonwealth has provided funds to the Department of Education for the 2014–15
and 2015–16 financial years for a wide range of programs. Commonwealth
funds are pooled with state appropriations to provide services or facilities to
schools, directly allocated by the department to schools to spend or be spent
centrally on behalf of schools.
The main programs include students
first: funds are pooled with state appropriations to provide public school
services or as a funding source for school building works; universal access:
funds are used for the provision of four hours per week of kindergarten in
public and non-government schools and to improve school facilities catering for
kindergarten students. The four hours per week funded by the commonwealth is in
addition to the 11 hours per week funded by the state.
Other programs include support for
students with disabilities, improving teacher quality and the national schools
chaplaincy program.
From the commencement of 2015,
funds distributed to schools, including commonwealth funds, are distributed
through the student-centred funding model. Importantly, the new model provides
funding for each student enrolled in a school. Targeted funding allocations are
also provided for schools with eligible students to meet the specific learning
needs of Aboriginal students, students facing social disadvantage, students
with English as a second language and students with a disability.
(1)–(2)
The commonwealth has provided funds to the Department of Education for the 2014–15
and 2015–16 financial years for a wide range of programs. Commonwealth
funds are pooled with state appropriations to provide services or facilities to
schools, directly allocated by the department to schools to spend or be spent
centrally on behalf of schools.
The main programs include students
first: funds are pooled with state appropriations to provide public school
services or as a funding source for school building works; universal access:
funds are used for the provision of four hours per week of kindergarten in
public and non-government schools and to improve school facilities catering for
kindergarten students. The four hours per week funded by the commonwealth is in
addition to the 11 hours per week funded by the state.
Other programs include support for
students with disabilities, improving teacher quality and the national schools
chaplaincy program.
From the commencement of 2015,
funds distributed to schools, including commonwealth funds, are distributed
through the student-centred funding model. Importantly, the new model provides
funding for each student enrolled in a school. Targeted funding allocations are
also provided for schools with eligible students to meet the specific learning
needs of Aboriginal students, students facing social disadvantage, students
with English as a second language and students with a disability.
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