The AEU has launched a new campaign calling for federal politicians to ensure every school is provided the resources it needs to ensure every child gets the best education, regardless of their background or circumstances.

The Every School. Every Child. campaign imagines the positive difference if every school was provided with the full funding they need for every child to succeed, asking all political parties to:

• Fund public schools to a minimum of 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), which is recognised as the minimum funding requirement to give every child, regardless of their background, the greatest opportunity to achieve their full potential; including fully funded loadings for students with disabilities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students from low-SES backgrounds, rural and remote students, and students requiring English language support.
• Remove the legislated 20 per cent cap on the Commonwealth share of the SRS for public schools.
• Remove the four per cent capital depreciation tax in school funding bilateral agreements.
• Establish a capital fund for public schools to help meet rising enrolment growth and infrastructure needs.

Across Australia, public schools are making a significant difference in the lives of Australian children, helping to level the playing field, overcome disadvantage and achieve excellence for all. That is despite governments failing to properly and fairly fund public schools.

Federal school funding legislation and bilateral funding agreements between Commonwealth, state and territory governments mean that less than half of all public schools will reach 95 per cent of the SRS by 2023, denying public schools the vital resources needed for their students and entrenching school funding inequality across Australia.

According to a report by economist Adam Rorris, public schools face a $19 billion funding shortfall over the next four years.

In addition, the report highlights the need for capital investment for public schools, given the federal government provides zero funding.

The report shows that the cumulative capital investment gap between private and public sectors was $21.5 billion between 2013-2018.

Ms Haythorpe said the Every School. Every Child. campaign will target political parties to secure public school funding commitments in the lead up to the next federal election.

“We will be active across Australia, mobilising parents, teachers, principals and school communities to ensure that they understand the positive difference a truly needs-based school funding model would deliver for every school and every child, and that they consider this when they vote,” she said.

“It is public schools that make the significant difference in the lives of Australian children, helping to level the playing field, overcome disadvantage and achieve excellence for all.

“The positive difference that addressing the Commonwealth funding shortfall will make for public schools and students is immense.

“It would mean extra literacy and numeracy help for students who need it, and specialist support, more teachers and more one-on-one attention in every public school.

“The public school system is the fastest growing school sector and it urgently requires additional funding to meet the demand of rising enrolments.

“It is public schools that must receive additional funding for classrooms, gyms, libraries, new technology, art centres and science laboratories so that every child can learn in outstanding, modern facilities.

“All political parties must understand the critical importance of funding every public school properly and fairly to ensure that every child has the best education, regardless of their background or circumstances.”

To join the campaign visit everyschooleverychild.org.au