The campaign is being led by the AEU and has the support of each state teachers’ union representing public education.

We need all principals to keep their school communities informed of the use to which the funds are being put and the difference the missing funding would make (we have received only 36% of the Federal Government full Gonski commitment which is delivering only 17.5% of the SRS to students of public schools). The Federal Government have committed to lift their contribution to 20% of the SRS for each school over the next 6 years. It’s a very long way short of what is required.

Principals are asked to support community members in attending meetings with local members explaining the difference the funding is making and the difference the missing funding would make. This is particularly important as we are moving toward a Federal election.

With the removal of Minister Birmingham, we aren’t too sure of Minister Tehan’s plans. There is  concern over mooted “deals” with different sectors & where it leaves us. After a Pre-Educational Council meeting with our Minister today, we know he will certainly be pushing for us and has again re-iterated that our state Government is committed to its original Gonski Funding deal , so there will be additional funds for our schools in 2019 form the NSW Government.

Minister Stokes goes this week to the Educational Council meeting to further thrash out a national agreement & then bi-lateral agreement for our state. Currently the following draft 8 key reform initiatives are:

• Enhancing the Australian Curriculum to support teacher assessment of student attainment and growth
• Assisting teachers monitor individual student progress and identify student learning needs through opt-in online and on demand student learning assessment tools with links to student learning resources, prioritising early years foundation skills
• Reviewing senior secondary pathways into work, further education and training [including prerequisites for university entry]
• Reviewing teacher workforce needs of the future to attract and retain the best and brightest to the teaching profession and attract teachers to areas of need
• Strengthening the initial teacher education accreditation system [through establishing AITSL as the national initial teacher education accreditation regulator]
• Implementing a national unique student identifier (USI) to support better understanding of student progression and improve the national evidence base
• Establishing an independent national evidence institute to inform teacher practice, system improvement and policy development
• Improving national data quality, consistency and collection to improve the national evidence base and inform policy development.