The Albanese Government has reached an agreement with the Crisafulli Government to put all state schools in Queensland on a path to full and fair funding.
Today's agreement means that all public and state schools in the country are on a path to full and fair funding and all jurisdictions in Australia have now signed on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.
As part of the Heads of Agreement signed today, the Commonwealth will provide an additional 5 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) to Queensland.
This will lift the Commonwealth's contribution from 20 per cent to 25 per cent of the SRS by 2034.
This will see an estimated $2.8 billion in additional Commonwealth funding to Queensland state schools over the next 10 years.
This agreement will see the biggest injection of funding ever delivered for Queensland state schools.
As part of the Agreement, Queensland will remove the provision allowing them to claim 4 per cent of state school funding for indirect school costs such as capital depreciation and replace it with 4 per cent of recurrent funding on eligible expenses.
Commonwealth funding will be tied to the reforms needed to lift education standards across the country, including more individualised support for students.
This is not a blank cheque. The Agreement signed today will be followed by a Queensland Bilateral Agreement, which will tie funding to reforms that will help students catch up, keep up and finish school, such as:
- Year 1 phonics and early years of schooling numeracy checks to identify students in the early years of school who need additional help.
- evidence-based teaching and targeted and intensive supports such as small-group or catch-up tutoring to help students who fall behind.
- initiatives that support wellbeing for learning - including greater access to health professionals.
- access to high-quality and evidence-based professional learning, and
- initiatives that improve the attraction and retention of teachers and reduce teacher and school leader workload.
In addition to these reforms, the Agreements have targets, including that by 2030 the proportion of students finishing high school will be the highest it has ever been. Other targets include:
- Reducing the proportion of students in the NAPLAN 'Needs Additional Support' proficiency level for reading and numeracy by 10 per cent.
- Increasing the proportion of students in the 'Strong' and 'Exceeding' proficiency levels for reading and numeracy by 10 per cent by 2030 and trend upwards for priority equity cohorts in the 'Strong' and 'Exceeding' proficiency levels.
- Increasing the Student Attendance Rate, nationally, to 91.4 per cent (2019 level) by 2030.
- Increasing the engagement rate (completed or still enrolled) of initial teacher education students by 10 percentage points to 69.7 per cent by 2035.
- Increasing the proportion of students leaving school with a Year 12 certificate by 7.5 percentage points (nationally) by 2030.
This means more help for students and more support for teachers.
Quotes attributable to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese
"Building Australia's Future means investing in the next generation.
"That's why every dollar of this funding will go into helping children learn and participate in school.
"We know that education opens the doors of opportunity, and we want to widen them for every child in Australia.
"This is about investing in real reform with real funding - so Australian children get the best possible education."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Premier David Crisafulli
"We're proud to have secured the biggest funding boost ever delivered to Queensland state schools, because that's what our children deserve.
"This funding will raise the bar in classrooms across Queensland, giving our students a world class education and the support needed to succeed.
"We are backing our schools and teachers so they can boost participation rates and unlock our kids full potential.
"We are putting Queensland children on the path to a better education, so they can have a better future."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare
"This is a big day for Queensland state schools.
"I want to pay tribute to Premier Crisafulli and Minister Langbroek for their commitment to getting this done.
"This is real funding tied to real reforms to help students catch up, keep up and finish school.
"It's not a blank cheque. I want this money to get results.
"That's why funding will be directly tied to reforms that we know work.
"It will help make sure every child gets a great start in life. What every parent wants. And what every Australian child deserves."
Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Education and The Arts John-Paul Langbroek
"I want to thank Prime Minister Albanese and Minister Clare for their perseverance throughout negotiations and their collaborative efforts to get this deal done.
"These agreements truly signify a fresh start for Queensland state schools, we know this funding is needed across the state and I will work with my Department to put this money to best use in every aspect of our education system.
"The education outcome targets within this agreement also reaffirm our commitment at a state level to ensure all Queensland children have access to a world-class education."
