ASSPA provides resources to school based Indigenous parent committees for activities designed to enhance education opportunities for Indigenous students in preschool, primary and secondary schools and involve Indigenous parents in educational decision-making processes.
Funding
Funding allocated to each ASSPA committee is based on a per capita formula taking into account the number of Indigenous students enrolled at the school and whether the students are preschool/primary or secondary, weighted for remoteness. The per capita rates are:
|
Primary/preschool remote |
$215 |
| Primary/preschool non-remote |
$110 |
| |
|
| Secondary remote |
$315 |
| Secondary non-remote |
$160 |
2002 Expenditure $19 million (excludes audits and training costs)
How the ASSPA program is delivered
ASSPA is delivered through the DEST Indigenous Education Unit (IEU) network. The school principal must sign the ASSPA Activity Plan, which is necessary to get funding. The application for funding is divided into six categories of activities:
- encourage the parents of Indigenous students to become actively involved in the education of their children;
- improve the access of Indigenous students to education;
- increase the educational participation and attendance of Indigenous students;
- improve educational outcomes for Indigenous students;
- enable Indigenous students to participate in school based educational and sporting excursions and cultural activities; and
- administration costs.
Assessment of appropriateness/effectiveness
The review concluded that although the program had been effective in increasing the involvement of Indigenous parents in schools, there was little evidence that it had been successful in influencing school decisions and improving educational outcomes. It concluded that ASSPA as a program is largely .process. and .outputs. focussed and needs reform to step up the overall program.s impact on improving Indigenous students. educational outcomes.
Case studies highlighted the potential of ASSPA to significantly improve student attendance and retention. However, more work would need to be done to bring clearer focus to attendance, retention and other educational outcomes through ASSPA program and activities.
School staff stated that the ASSPA program by its very nature inhibits ASSPA committees to develop innovative solutions to addressing needs and aspirations of students and their parents and communities.