Individualschoolfundingguidelines

Purpose

The Rural and Remote Education Access Program (RREAP) helps Queensland state schools and school communities improve the educational outcomes and opportunities of students who are disadvantaged because of their geographical isolation, so their learning outcomes match those of other students.

Under the program,grant allocations are provided to assist eligible schools and school communities to support and enrich a curriculum that is appropriate for the educational needs of geographically isolated primary and secondary school students.

RREAP is administered by the Queensland Department of Education and Training. Individual school funding is managed by schools.

Who canapply?

Funding is available to state primary and secondary schools, special education and distance education facilities in designated RREAP areas.

School eligibility and the funding formula use the nationally recognised Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) classification system,replacing the Australian Standard Geographical Classification which was developed in 2001 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) as a statistical geography structure,to allow quantitative comparisons between 'city' and 'country' Australia, and is updated each census.

A school’s individual RREAP funding is paid through school grants payments each year. The decision-making for the school’s grants payment remains the responsibility of the school and parent organisation within the school.

Howtoapply

Each school will decide how their funds will be spent in line with the funding guidelines and criteria. RREAP funds will be allocated and signed off through the normal school processes as set out by the regional office.

When toapply

RREAP funding paid directly to schools through grants does not need an application form. Decision-making for this funding remains the responsibility of the school and parent organisation within the school. There is a school planning formwhich may help with the decision making process.

Howmuch?

The funding amount varies between schools and depends on enrolments at that school. Individualschool fundingamounts will be published on the website.

In the development of projects, schools have the capacity to plan beyond a year. Unexpended funds can be carried over from one year to the next, but funds must be committed to a planned project. Forward-planned projects must be approved and signed off through the normal school processes as set out by the regional office.

Useoffunds

RREAP projects must be clearly linked to geographic isolation and must be an enhancement of educational outcomes. Consider the following questions to indicate whether a project is acceptable:

  • Howdoesthisactivityaddressneedscreatedbythe locationof thestudents?
  • Istheactivityanenhancementto whatschoolsandsystemsprovide?

It is recommended that this funding be used mainly in the core learning priorities outlined by the education system for projects that support:

a)Curriculumenhancement

b)Informationandcommunicationtechnology

c)Professionaldevelopment

Where the purchase of equipment for a project is consistent with the purpose of the program, schools may expend up to $5,000. Any equipment purchased as part of a project must comply with the department’s Purchasing and Procurement procedure.

a)Curriculumenhancement

Access to supplementary educational opportunities that support and enrich the curriculum for geographically isolated school students, for example:

  • schoolexcursionsandcampstoimprovestudentlearningoutcomesacrosskeylearningareas
  • accesstoservicesandprogramsin aspecificlearningarea thatcan’tbesourcedlocally
  • additional costs associated with activities that support secondary students in making the transition to further education, training andwork.

b)Information and communication technology

Providing information and communication technology (ICT) to enable geographically isolated students to be confident, creative and productive users of new technologies, and understand the impact of these technologies on society. RREAP funding is to enhance education system responsibilities in the application of technology with teaching and learning. Where the department has made a commitment to roll out ICT equipment to all schools over several years, projects purchasing ICT equipment would need to clearly demonstrate that the equipment is a necessary addition within the long‐term planning of the rollout.

c)Professionaldevelopment

RREAP funding may be used for professional development (PD)and support which address particular development needs of teachers in geographically isolated areas. The provision of professional support may help to attract and retain teachers. PD of teachers rests with the education system and schools, therefore, projects in this area would need to demonstrate they are a necessary addition to what is the usual responsibility of the education system. Projects involving PD should consider what would be normal for teachers in urban areas, and only address any additional costs to teachers/schools due to their rural location.

Schools should balance the use of funding to address the above three spending areas. Funding should not be spent in only one area.

RREAP funding should be used to address the additional costs associated with enhancing the educational opportunities of students who are disadvantaged by their geographic isolation.

RREAP funds are not to be used as a substitute for funding resources or services, as these are the responsibility of the education system, other agencies or providers.

Funds cannot be used for:

  • activitiesorpurchaseofequipmentthatarenotdirectlyrelatedtostudenteducational outcomes. For example:
  • swimming lane ropes for the local pool
  • tap shoes for local dance studio
  • personal dance lessons with private dance instructor
  • purchase of major resources, e.g. shade structures, refrigerators, playground equipment, school vehicles (car), storage sheds, etc
  • promotion of the program.

Schools have the capacity to aggregate their school funds to support school cluster projects.

Individual School Funding guidelinesDate modified 26 February 2015