Education

CHOICE AND EQUITY:

FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS FOR NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
2001 - 2004

FUNDING BASED ON THE SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS (SES) OF THE SCHOOL COMMUNITY

An SES measure is a better reflection of the capacity of communities to provide financial support for their schools. It also best meets the essential characteristics for a sound funding system.

Some of the benefits of an SES approach are set out below:

The SES methodology is transparent	the SES methodology is based on publicly available, independent, reliable data the data cannot be manipulated to influence funding
The SES methodology is fair	contributions required of parents relate to capacity to pay
The SES methodology is flexible	schools are not locked into traditional operating patterns schools can respond to the community they wish to serve
The SES methodology removes disincentives to private investment	it removes the threat of losing Commonwealth funds as a result of school fundraising activities
The SES methodology is simple	funding is based on data readily available from schools and the Census it is administratively more simple and efficient and involves less ‘red tape’

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