SCHOOL FUNDING

In reply to Mr PISONI (Unley) (7 October 2010) (Estimates Committee B).

The Hon. G. PORTOLESI (Hartley—Minister for Education and Child Development): The $13,547 average funding per student figure as announced as part of the 2010-11 State Budget is a broad based calculation which takes into account the 2010-11 budget operating expenditure of the Department of Education and Children's Services (including corporate costs). It excludes preschool education and school sector expenditure not funded by government and compares this with the approved enrolment projection for 2010-11.

The Index of Educational Disadvantage is used in determining a range of targeted allocations to schools. Additional Junior Primary and Year 3 teacher time is allocated on a per student basis depending on the schools Index category. For example additional Junior Primary teaching time is allocated on a scale such that Category 1 (most disadvantaged) schools receive 5 times the allocation of Category 7 (least disadvantaged) schools. Primary School Counsellor allocations are based on primary enrolments numbers which are weighted based on the school's Index category. The Index is used in calculating other school grants such as Disadvantaged School Program grants (allocated differentially to Category 1 to Category 4 schools) and Socio-Economic Resource grants (allocated differentially to Category 1 to 3 Schools). The Index is also used in the calculation of other allocations such as Early Years Literacy funding and Training and Development grants.

A number of factors influence funding per capita in schools. These include the size of the school, whether the school is located in a metropolitan or country area and the number of special needs students. Category 5 secondary schools receive on average slightly more than category 4 schools because there are a small number of category 5 schools and these tend to be located in country areas.

The following table provides the relative percentages of the average Resource Entitlement Statement (RES) funding for students according to the Index of Disadvantage.

Percentage of average funding by Index of Disadvantage 2009-10: