Objective
The Schools Grants element contributes funding to government and non-government school education authorities in States and Territories to measurably improve the learning outcomes of educationally disadvantaged students. These students may include for example students with disabilities, students with learning difficulties, students with a language background other than English (LBOTE), and low socioeconomic status (SES) students.
Schools Grants provides supplementary funding for additional assistance for the most educationally disadvantaged students to support activities such as literacy and numeracy intervention programmes; additional specialist learning assistance; teachers for students with disabilities and learning difficulties; and classroom resources and equipment for students who require extra help to achieve an appropriate standard of learning.
An estimated $1.873 billion will be allocated through this element over 2005-2008. Of this amount, an estimated $433 million will be allocated for 2005.
Australian Government Management
Schools Grants funding is allocated to Government and non-Government education authorities. The national allocation for the Schools Grants element is distributed using a composite allocative mechanism. This reflects the wide range of students who have special needs.
- 38% of funding is distributed using a Socio-Economic Disadvantage (SES) allocative mechanism which uses 2001 census data;
- 28% of funding is distributed using a Language Background Other Than English (LBOTE) allocative mechanism which uses 2001 census data;
- 8% of funding is for the students with disabilities (SWD) per capita element based on the reported numbers of students with disabilities;
- 26% of Schools Grants funding is allocated to sectors on the basis of their share of Government and non-Government school enrolments.
State and Territory Management
State and Territory education authorities are responsible for the administration and distribution of Schools Grants funding in accordance with the principles of equity, effectiveness and efficiency, and within broad Commonwealth guidelines.
They determine where the greatest needs are for additional assistance and they decide the precise quantum of funding that is provided to support schools and students, including students with disabilities.
Conditions of Funding
Education authorities enter into four year funding agreements with the Australian Government. These agreements specify certain commitments. For more information see Appendix E Part 3 of the Quadrennial Administrative Guidelines. 
Use of Funds
Funding provided under the Schools Grants element may be used for the following:
- Literacy and numeracy intervention programmes;
- Additional specialist learning assistance;
- Provision of teachers for students with disabilities and learning difficulties;
- Provision of classroom resources and equipment for students who require extra help to achieve an appropriate standard of learning.
Access to Funds
For information about access to Schools Grants funding:
- Government schools should contact their State or Territory education authority;
- Catholic schools should contact the Catholic Education Commission in their State or Territory; and
- Independent schools should contact the Association of Independent Schools in their State or Territory.
Legislation
Schools Assistance Act 2004: Sections 115, 116, 117, 118, 119 and 120.
Target Group
Schools Grants funding seeks to target the most educationally disadvantaged school students, including students with disabilities who may face barriers to effective participation at school and who:
Educational disadvantage may be associated with a range of factors such as a disability or learning difficulty, a language background other than English, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, low socio-economic background or geographical isolation.
Quadrennial Guidelines
For further information about the administration of the Schools Grants element, refer to the 2005-2008 Quadrennial Administrative Guidelines.
Objective
The purpose of the Non-Government Centres Support (NGCS) element of the Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Programme is to improve the educational opportunities, learning outcomes and personal development of children with disabilities who receive services provided by non-government centres.
Target Group
NGCS funding may be targeted to:
- provide learning and development opportunities for children with disabilities who are below school age to prepare them for integration into regular pre-schools or schools;
- assist school-aged children with severe disabilities by improving their access to educational programmes; or
- assist children with disabilities in residential care.
An estimated $146 million will be allocated through this element over 2005-2008. Of this amount, an estimated $37.471 million will be allocated for 2008.
To be eligible for funding, a non-government organisation must provide programmes or activities designed specifically for children with disabilities. The organisation must not be managed or controlled by, or on behalf of, the government of the State in which it is located or conducted for profit. Examples of a non-government centre include a pre-school, an early intervention centre, a registered charity, a religious organisation, a local government instrumentality, or community organisation eg: parent group.
Australian Government Management
Funding allocations for this element of the Programme are provided to an ‘agent’ in each State/Territory. A new mechanism for allocating funding across States and Territories has been introduced in 2005. The method of allocating NGCS funds is based on the estimated State/Territory shares of the population aged 0-18 years who have a disability.
State and Territory Management
An agent in each State/Territory is responsible for the detailed administration of funding provided under this element of the Programme. The agent is the State Department of Education or equivalent, except in Victoria where it is the Department of Human Services.
In determining priorities for allocating the funding to individual non-government centres, agents are expected to consult with all relevant stakeholders, including education authorities and community groups.
The agents are responsible for allocating the funds to individual non-government centres for recurrent or capital purposes.
Use of Funds
Funds allocated for recurrent purposes may be used for:
- the salaries of teachers, therapists and support personnel;
- essential travel and transport costs of children and staff;
- consultancy and advisory services;
- curriculum development;
- monitoring and evaluating educational programmes and other services;
- professional development programmes associated with special education; and
- the purchase of specialist educational equipment and technology.
At least 5% of the programme funding must be allocated to the construction or refurbishment of non-government centre facilities.
Access to Funds
For information about access to NGCS funding non-government centres should contact their State Department of Education or equivalent, except in Victoria were they should contact the Victorian Department of Human Services.
Legislation
Schools Assistance Act 2004: Section 119.
Quadrennial Guidelines
For further information about the administration of the Non-Government Centres Support element, refer to the Quadrennial Administrative Guidelines.
Objective
The National Projects element, like the former National Literacy & Numeracy Strategies and Projects Programme, provides funding for national projects and initiatives that seek to address emerging priority areas for educationally disadvantaged students.
Use of Funds
The National Projects element supports projects aimed at improving the educational outcomes of educationally disadvantaged students, including improved literacy and numeracy outcomes. It also funds early childhood education initiatives; and development of policies for the use of information and communication technologies to improve learning outcomes for students who are educationally disadvantaged.
Australian Government Management
The National Projects element is administered nationally, and projects for funding are approved by the Minister for Education, Science and Training.
These projects are advertised for tender from time to time in the national press.
An estimated $32 million is allocated under this element for 2005-2008, with $9.4 million allocated for 2005 (initial 2005 prices).
Quadrennial Guidelines
For further information about the administration of the National Projects element, refer to the Quadrennial Administrative Guidelines.