The National School Resourcing Board (the Board), established under section 128 of the Australian Education Act 2013 (the Act) is required to conduct a review of Regional Schooling Resource Standard Loadings.
Terms of Reference
The terms of reference require the Board to consider funding provided to regional and remote schools, provide findings and make recommendations relating to the current settings for the school location and school size loadings and the data informing the loadings. The Board will take into consideration:
- previous research on funding for schools in regional or remote areas
- the level of resources used to support schools in regional and remote areas from other loadings as well as from other programs and government agencies
- the level of funding provided by approved system authorities to member schools for students attending a regional or remote school under each system’s needs-based funding arrangements
- any significant variations related to school setting or context, including in-school delivery of education for boarding students.
The review will not consider the capacity to contribute arrangements for non-government schools.
Consultation
In undertaking its review, the Board is consulting with stakeholders from both the government and non-government sector, and invited submissions from interested parties.
The Board developed an issues paper to support the submission process. Submissions have now closed.
For further information and how to provide a submission, please visit the submission page.
The Board will provide states and territories the opportunity to provide feedback on draft findings of the review.
Report
On 16 February 2023 the National Schools Resourcing Board (the Board) presented the Australian Government with its final report Review of the Regional Schooling Resource Standards Loadings: February 2023.
The Board was asked to consider funding provided to regional and remote schools, provide findings and make recommendations relating to the current settings for the school location and school size loadings and the data informing the loadings.
The Board was asked to take into consideration previous research on funding for schools in regional or remote areas; the level of resources used to support schools in regional and remote areas from other loadings as well as from other programs and government agencies; the level of funding provided by approved system authorities to member schools for students attending a regional or remote school under each system’s needs-based funding arrangements; and any significant variations related to school setting or context, including in-school delivery of education for boarding students.
The report was informed by a range of extensive research, consideration of the requirements of the Act, the National School Reform Agreement and associated Bilateral Reform Agreements, and analysis of public submissions on a range of issues proposed by various stakeholders. The Board also undertook targeted consultations with key stakeholders in each state and territory.
On 17 August 2023, the Australian Government announced its response to the Board’s review.
More information