State school principals and parents are reeling from a state government decision to cut $3,400 a year in disability support per eligible student in mainstream classrooms.
Classroom Funding Cuts and Program Changes For Mainstream Schools
With just six weeks left before the academic year concludes, the state administration issued a letter to state school leaders late on Tuesday detailing a significant overhaul of publicly funded disability assistance. Set to take effect from term 1 next year, the modifications involve a 2.5 per cent decrease in student-level funding rates alongside a $850 per term reduction for each student in mainstream schools exclusively.
A government spokesperson stated that the cuts are designed to curtail the ballooning cost of providing disability support in the state’s schools, which has risen by 16 per cent a year since 2021. According to the government, this spending trajectory is unsustainable and risks affecting support for children who need it most.
Overall funding for disability inclusion will grow to $2.2 billion in 2029, according to the government’s letter to school leaders. Pointing out that overall school funding remains untouched, a government spokesperson explained that these resources will instead be reallocated toward explicit teaching reforms, targeted literacy and numeracy interventions, tutoring, and services designed to keep students engaged in their education.
State tightens support criteria without consulting teachers
Alongside the funding reductions, the state government plans to tighten the criteria for students receiving disability support. The updated framework introduces new definitions of academic performance and benchmarks for being able to perform tasks independently.
However, the government has not yet clarified what specific criteria will be used to determine which students remain eligible for taxpayer-funded supports under the new system. Teachers and principals expressed shock at the announcement, stating they were not consulted before the changes were issued.
Melbourne mother Christine, whose 16-year-old son has autism, a mild intellectual disability, and ADHD, described the extra help her son receives in school as essential. She explained that without disability inclusion support from the beginning, her son may have fallen out of the school system altogether, noting that support aides are critical in helping students get through the school day and stay connected to learning.
Did You Know? The state government’s letter to school leaders was delivered late on Tuesday, arriving just six weeks before the end of the school year and outlining changes that take effect starting in term 1 next year.
Union and Principal Reactions to the Funding Shake-Up
Karen Dimmock, chief executive of the Association for Children with a Disability, remarked that families were left devastated by the new criteria, which result in reduced financial resources for schools to assist students. She pointed out that the majority of disability funding is spent on individual education support staff who assist children with physical access, low vision, hearing impairments, and focus.
Australian Principals Federation president Andrew Cock argued that a student’s disability does not become less complex simply because the department changed its formula. He maintained that schools cannot deliver more inclusive education with reduced funding when the expectations on principals and the needs of students remain unchanged.
Victorian branch president of the Australian Education Union, Justin Mullaly, called the decision a disgrace and demanded an immediate reversal. He stated that the policy would pull support from one in every six students receiving disability inclusion support at a public school.
State government outlines timeline and funding cuts for schools
When do the funding cuts and policy changes take effect?
The changes announced by the state government will apply starting from term 1 next year.
What specific reductions are mainstream schools facing?
Mainstream schools face a 2.5 per cent drop in student-level funding rates, translating to a reduction of $850 a term per student, or $3,400 a year.
How much is overall disability inclusion funding projected to reach in 2029?
The government’s letter stated that overall funding for disability inclusion will grow to $2.2 billion in 2029.
How will your local school manage the transition to these revised disability support criteria next term?
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