NSW Nationals Education Minister Sarah Mitchell has announced that students in regional public schools will benefit from the funding certainty delivered in their school budget allocations for next year.
NSW Nationals Member for Upper Hunter Michael Johnsen welcomed the certainty, and said the allocations were part of $10.1 billion in annual Gonski funding being delivered to public schools for 2021.
The distribution of funding through the Resource Allocation Model (RAM) ensures that the best possible learning opportunities are provided to directly benefit the 2021 student cohort.
“The $20 million in funding for our Upper Hunter electorate delivers support where it is needed the most, to students and schools with the greatest need,” Mr Johnsen said.
“2021 will be the eighth year that the Resource Allocation Model has delivered funding certainty to schools to enable them to plan so that improvement will touch every classroom, be the work of every teacher and impact every student.”
In addition to a number of needs-based funding items, the funding will be predominately allocated through the seven RAM loadings – the equity loadings (socio-economic, Aboriginal, low level adjustment for disability, English language proficiency) and the base loadings (location, per capita and professional learning).
“Needs-based funding underpins the great strength of public education – equity of opportunity and will ensure schools in our Upper Hunter electorate continue to flourish and deliver those opportunities,” Mr Johnsen said.