What matters most in ACT Public Education - Help Shape ACT Parents' submission to the Public School System Resourcing Review Panel Survey

ACT Parents is seeking feedback from parents and carers about what matters most in ACT public education.

The ACT Government is undertaking a review into public school funding. The aim is to make sure every school has what it needs to provide a high-quality, fair and consistent education for all students. This year, ACT public schools are projected to overspend their budgets by almost $70 million, highlighting the urgency of understanding the rising costs and pressures schools face.

The review is examining rising costs, the supports schools need, and how funding should be shared across the system so that every child can thrive at their local public school. Your responses will help us understand community priorities and prepare a submission to the Public School System Resourcing Review Panel.

Section 1 - About You

3.What is your postcode?

Section 2: Your current experience at an ACT public school

4.How confident are you that your school currently has the staff, resources and infrastructure to meet student need?

5.Has your school experienced any of the following this year? (Select all that apply)

Split or collapsed classes

Classes supervised rather than taught

Limited or inconsistent access to LSAs

Delays accessing allied health or specialist supports

Reduced subject offerings due to staffing constraints

Unfilled teacher vacancies

Flexible timetabling (i.e. 4.5 days per week of classes)

None of the above

If your school experienced any of these things please provide further details

Section 3: System wide priorities and initiatives

6.The ACT Government currently delivers a Meals in Schools program that provides free breakfast and lunch three days a week in five ACT public schools. The Government has committed to expanding the program to 20 schools at a projected cost of $32 million over the next three years.

How would you classify this initiative?

Must have for all schools (universal)

Nice to have but should target schools with higher need

Not necessary - funds could be better used elsewhere

Unsure

7.The ACT Government now provides every public primary school student with one free overnight camp at Birrigai Outdoor School during their primary years. The initiative is funded at $3.3 million over four years.

How would you classify the free school camp initiative?

Must have - a valuable universal experience

Nice to have but should be targeted to students with high financial need

Not necessary - funds could be used elsewhere

Unsure

8.Would you pay voluntary contributions if they were collected centrally and distributed equally across all ACT public schools?

Voluntary contributions are optional fees parents and carers can choose to pay to help cover the costs of education. These are currently set and managed by individual schools, with all funds used within the school community from which they are collected.

Yes

No

Unsure

Section 5: Additional feedback on school funding

9.What is the single biggest issue you want the Resourcing Review Panel to address?

10.Is there anything else you would like ACT Parents to include in its submission?

11.The next section is optional and asks for more detailed responses. You can finish the survey now or continue if you would like to share more of your views.
Would you like to submit your responses now, or continue?

Submit now

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