The Australian Parents Council is calling for all governments to put the wellbeing of students and stability of schooling and at the forefront in all decisions about school funding as we readjust after the current turmoil. COVID-19 is bound to have longer term impacts, so for the sake of the continuity of kids' education and the longer term continuity of schooling provision, we are advocating that support for all schools, all students and all families, in all schooling sectors, should be the priority for all governments at the moment.

The recent offer by the Federal Government to pay funding to non-government schools early to help cope with extra costs associated with Covid-19 was a move welcomed by APC and some schools. But we felt that tying the early payment to schools agreeing to go back to face to face teaching was inappropriate. We argued that a return to the classroom should only happen when it was safe for students, schools, teachers and parents, not as a result of a financial incentive.

Our media statement at the time said: 'The Federal Government should be supporting non-government schools during the COVID-19 crisis and do everything it can to maintain the stability of education provision in Australia for the sake of students. Bringing forward of budgeted payments makes good sense in times of economic hardship and APC supports the non-government system in delivering a workable solution to government. The last thing that schools, students and parents need right now is further instability.

'If the government wants to persuade parents it is safe to send kids back to the classroom, it needs to be a lot more transparent, provide detailed information and involve parents in the decision making process...The focus should be on supporting schools so they can support students.'

'Many families are already reportedly looking at pulling children out of fee-paying schools for financial reasons. This will impact the continuity of education and well-being of thousands of children, who will have to settle into new schools leaving many friends behind. It will also impact non-government schools, which currently educate about a third of all Australian students. The Australian Parents Council would prefer to see the Federal Government working collaboratively with non-government school providers to address all the issues Covid-19 has thrown up, for the sake of all the students affected.'

The approach was also criticised by school leaders. Independent Schools Victoria chief Michelle Green said it was unfair for the federal government to set a deadline.

In a report in the Sydney Morning Herald 'Private schools warning on funding deadline', she said: 'Schools have just two days to decide if they are able to provide a safe workplace for their teachers and a safe learning environment for their students, in circumstances where they are all under incredible strain and many are under financial pressure.'

Funding brought forward this year may also have a knock on effect next year.

In the same report Christian Schools Australia director of public policy Mark Spencer said the commonwealth offer was “helpful” but pointed out that certainty of funding next year is going to crucial.

“Schools are looking at a range of factors from state government approaches to the needs of their parents and staff,” he said.

“Of far greater value to Christian schools would be an immediate guarantee that Commonwealth funding for 2020 will be no less than the amount a school would receive if the funding was based on the school community as at the commencement of Term One.
 
“This guarantee would provide a lot of certainty to schools.'

Meanwhile the transition to a new funding assessment method to decide funding for Catholic and independent schools has continued. The use of tax information to assess parents' capacity to contribute is expected to be more accurate and fairer than previous methods. This will produce a number of winners and losers, as reported by The Australian 'Elite schools face fee hikes under means-tested funding'.