Feature: Non-government schools get more government money for each special needs student than public schools

Friday 07 May 2010

The NSW and federal governments give more money to Catholic and private schools for each special needs child than they do to support the needs of an equivalent child in a public school.

The Greens analysed the per capita funding mechanisms for non-government schools which are based on the average cost of educating a child in public schools. The results contradict claims made by the private school lobby that non-government school students with disabilities or learning difficulties are not getting a fair share of the budget.

Of the $3 billion provided by the NSW and Commonwealth governments to non-government schools in this state each year as recurrent funding, 13 percent ($400 million) is provided because of the money spent on special needs services in public schools.

If this money were allocated to special needs children in non-government schools, on average they would each receive $15,800 which is 19 per cent more than the average amount spent on services for the average special needs student in public schools.

Greens MP John Kaye accused the private school lobby of misleading an upper house inquiry. He called on both state and federal governments to provide more money for special needs students in public schools .

Per capita funding mechanisms and special needs education – the details


Both state and federal governments provide recurrent funding for non-government schools on the basis of a proportion of the average costs of educating a child in a public school.

The cost of educating a child in a public schools is referred to as:

   * the AGSRC (average government school recurrent costs) in the case of the federal government’s SES and funding maintained system, and

   * “the average per capita cost to the State of educating children at government schools” (section 21 of the NSW Education Act[1]) in the case of the NSW’s government’s ’25 percent rule’ funding of non-government schools.

Both of these average public school recurrent costs include a component that derives from the costs of providing services to special needs students in public schools.

According to the NSW government submission[2] to the NSW Upper House Inquiry into Special Needs Education[3] (see page 6), the allocation of $1.1 billion to disability or special needs education in public schools in 2009/10 accounts for 13% of the total net cost of service budget in government schools.

Since 13% of the cost of educating the average child in public schools is special needs services, it follows that 13% of the recurrent funding allocated by the state and federal governments to non-government schools is because of special needs expenditure in public schools.

That money is supposed to cover part of the cost of provisions services for special needs children in non-government schools.

State and federal budgets show that total recurrent subsidies to non-government schools in NSW is $3.047 billion in 2009/10.

Thus non-government schools in NSW are receiving 13% of $3.047 billion = $396 million in respect of students with a disability or learning difficulty.

There are 25,000 special needs students in non-government schools in NSW[4].

Thus public funding delivered to non-government schools via the per capita funding mechanism is $396 million / 25,000 students = $15,800 per special needs student.

In public schools, $1.1 billion of special education funding is divided between 83,000 special eduction students[5], resulting in $1.1 billion / 83,000 = $13,253 per student.


Special needs funding graphs [see above link]

Government money provided to non-government schools through the per capita funding mechanism based on the cost of providing services for a child with special needs is 19 per cent greater than the actual money spent on the average special needs student in public schools.

Students with special needs make up:

   * 11.1 percent of students in public schools
   * 6.7 percent of students in private schools.

The per capita funding mechanism over-provides for special needs services in non-government schools.

This analysis does not account for the reality of public schools educating a far greater proportion of the very high supports needs students compared to non-government schools. Public education would be even more disadvantaged when the distribution of costs are taken into consideration.

This analysis also ignored special needs funds given to non-government schools though other mechanisms such as the supervisor subsidy.

Where does all the money go?

While non-government schools in NSW receive $400 million of their annual recurrent grants because of disability and learning difficulties service provision in public schools, much of this money is not spent on special needs students.

Despite receiving funding that would by itself provide a higher level of service provision than in public schools, non-government education allocates this money to other students and activities.

Where non-government schools students receive a lower proportion of funded services, it is because the schools have chosen to spend the money elsewhere.

Contd.

Equitist wrote on Jul 22^nd, 2010 at 1:25pm:


This doesn't only happen in private schools. It happens in all schools where there is a heavy emphasis on excellent results in the HSC. I went to a public school, and I can bet that at least maybe a quarter of my year claimed special considerations.

HSC help most often for private students

ANNA PATTY EDUCATION EDITOR

December 18, 2009

ALMOST 42 per cent of students at one private school received special allowances in this year's Higher School Certificate exams - almost eight times higher than the average proportion at public schools.

Twenty-five private schools - including Reddam House, Scots College, Masada College, Frensham, Cranbrook and SCEGGS - received special consideration for their HSC students at more than twice the rate of public schools.

Independent schools continued to received the disproportionately higher rates of special provisions compared with public school students despite the State Government's review of the system last year.

The provisions granted include Braille papers, large print papers, use of a reader and/or writer, and extra time or rest breaks for conditions including emotional and physical disabilities.

At Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School, Middle Cove, 41.7 per cent of students claimed special provisions this year compared to 18.2 per cent last year. The school climbed 109 places to 269th position in the Herald's list of top HSC performers this year.

Reddam House in Bondi, which was ranked seventh, compared with 54th last year, claimed special provisions for 14.3 per cent of its HSC students this year, compared with 11.5 per cent last year.

A NSW Greens analysis of government figures shows that the NSW Board of Studies granted special provisions for this year's HSC examinations to 9.5 per cent of students at independent schools[/highlight], 7.6 per cent of students at Catholic Schools and 5.3 per cent of students at public schools.

The proportion of students with a disability at government schools is 4.8 per cent, almost double the 2.6 per cent at private schools, according to the latest available figures from the Bureau of Statistics.

The NSW Greens MP John Kaye said while special examination provisions were a vital part of providing ''a fair go for many students sitting the HSC, wealthy private schools are getting much more than their fair share'' despite the State Government's claims to have investigated the matter last year.

''The integrity of the state's most important public exam is at stake,'' Dr Kaye said. ''Students giving it their best shot have a right to know that they competed on a level playing field.''

The chairman of Glenaeon Rudolf Steiner School's management group, Andrew Hill, said students at the school were not gaining an unfair advantage. He said a large proportion of students who claimed special provisions this year had anxiety problems and a small proportion had special needs. Students who suffered from anxiety were given additional exam time to rest.

The executive director from the Association of Independent Schools NSW, Geoff Newcombe, said the system did not aim to provide advantage. ''It is aimed at correcting disadvantage.''

Schools granted a high proportion of special provisions last year, as highlighted by the Herald, have significantly reduced their requests this year.

At MLC School in Burwood, the proportion of students granted special provisions this year was 6.9 per cent compared to 17.3 per cent last year, while at The King’s School in Parramatta, the rate decreased from 18.2 per cent last year to 8.3 per cent.

The proportion of Meriden School students who received special provisions was 17.6 per cent last year and 8 per cent this year.

At the Presbyterian Ladies College in Croydon, the proportion has dropped from 17.4 per cent last year to 8.3 per cent this year and at Oxley college in Bowral from 29.5 per cent to 21.1 per cent.

Cyberman wrote on Jul 21^st, 2010 at 10:12pm:


You are aware, aren't you, that private schools generally pay less than public schools!?

As it happens, the same applies to all-but the top escelons in private hospitals, aged facilites and child handling centres...

As for the claim. that the removal of Govt private school subsidies, would result in as much as 50% or 2/3 of all kids being pulled out of private schools and plopped into the public ones - are you guys serious!?

To that, I say: bollox - because most people who send their kids to private schools do because of strong ideological and/or elitist dispositions...

I wonder if Comrade Meekist can be so gracious? I have been waiting a while for his promised delivery yet he has been strangely silent.

I said that the best teachers will go where the money is. I am happy to admit if I am wrong.

Someone made the assertion that the public sector unionised teaching realm is where the money is. Will they be man enough to produce, admit they made an assumption that supported their agenda or slink away in the hope this subject will go away and not remind them of their lack of stones  

Take all the time you need.

I'll be waiting. Ready to bring your lack of substance up should you fail to produce.

Don't take it personally, just be sure you don't make unqualified assumptions to support your agenda in the future.  

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