On 16 December 2010, the panel released the Review of Funding for Schooling: Emerging Issues Paper and invited comments through a call for public submissions until 31 March 2011.

While a number of submissions have been received on the paper, there is still time before submissions close.

I have written to all schools in all states and territories enclosing a copy of the Emerging Issues Paper and encouraging participation in the submission process.

The Secretariat has also provided a number of copies of the paper to parent representative bodies, inviting their comment.

It is important we hear the key priorities for funding for schooling from those who confront these issues on a daily basis, especially principals, teachers and parents.

The review’s website contains a copy of the Emerging Issues Paper and provides information on how to make a submission.

The panel looks forward to receiving further views through the public submission process.

Review’s program of research

I have said before that the task ahead of the panel in developing any new funding model for schooling is complex.

The process must be informed by rigorous research that provides a solid evidence base for the panel’s recommendations.

We know from our discussions with education groups and schools that there are many concerns around the current funding arrangements for schooling. These concerns are captured in the Emerging Issues Paper.

With this feedback in mind, a comprehensive program of research is underway which will inform the outcome of the review.

We are also drawing on the extensive research that has been undertaken over recent years to further our considerations.

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) is finalising its report to the panel on the current processes for funding disadvantaged students at the Australian Government and state and territory levels across all schooling sectors.

This work also involves an assessment of the current arrangements and ways in which they could be improved to better meet student needs.

The Allen Consulting Group is currently scoping the potential value of a schooling resource standard or benchmark in new funding arrangements. This project involves examining the feasibility and desirability of different approaches for developing a standard and their respective advantages and disadvantages.

Access Economics is assessing existing Australian Government and state and territory government funding models and methods.

The project will identify criteria by which the effectiveness of different school funding models around Australia could be assessed and consider how funding arrangements at different levels of government interact.

A further research project will document the opportunities and challenges Australia faces in improving educational outcomes for all students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. This will be done by a consortium led by The Nous Group, and also involving The University of Melbourne’s Graduate School of Education and the National Institute of Labour Studies at Flinders University.

Elements of potential funding models are also being developed.

The research projects are being progressed in collaboration with state and territory and non-government education authorities.

The submissions provided to the review through the Emerging Issues Paper process, as well as those received of a more general nature, will also inform the panel’s deliberations.

While I acknowledge the challenging and difficult work that lies ahead, the panel is excited about the possibilities of the review.

We look forward to reporting to the Australian Government, and will seek to do this before the end of this calendar year.

School visits

Between February and May 2011, members of the panel are undertaking a series of school visits to hear more about the issues which were raised by key education groups during the panel’s initial consultations last year.

The panel is hearing first-hand of the funding challenges facing schools in catering for their students.

We are visiting 38 schools across the government and non-government schooling sectors in each state and territory.

A range of schools are being visited, including those in regional and remote areas, and those with high enrolments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students whose language background is not English, and students with special needs and students with disability.

I thank the principals, teachers and staff from within the relevant systems who have warmly welcomed our visits and have generously dedicated their time to speak with us.

David Gonski AC
Chair
Review of Funding for Schooling

Making a submission

Submissions are invited on issues outlined in the Review of Funding for Schooling: Emerging Issues Paper until 31 March 2011.

Those with access to email are encouraged to provide comments through the submission template available from the review’s website at www.deewr.gov.au/fundingreview .

Hard copy submissions and attachments should be sent to:

Secretariat Review of Funding for Schooling Location C16MT4 GPO Box 9880 CANBERRA ACT 2601

General submissions and feedback on the review can be made at any time.
Further information

Visit the review’s website at www.deewr.gov.au/fundingreview .