Grants and allowances > Non-state schools >

Special Assistance Schools

Purpose

This grant replaces the state government recurrent funding for non-state schools and is intended to assist Special Assistance Schools in meeting recurrent costs.

Eligibility

A Special Assistance School is an accredited non-state school that:

has been established specifically and solely for the purpose of catering for young people who are not engaged in education, VET or work
has facilities, staffing structures and operational models that support education services for young people to re-engage in sustainable educational pathways
enrols only students who are not engaged in education, VET or work
enrols students mainly through a referral process (e.g. other schools, juvenile justice system, child protection agency, community agencies, etc)
has a flexible and specific educational program designed to re-engage and maintain students in an accredited education pathway
has active links with community agencies and other educational providers which assist at-risk youth
does not charge tuition fees.

Applying for Special Assistance School status

The governing body of a non-state school may apply for status as a Special Assistance School by writing to the Minister for Education, Training and Employment and addressing each of the criteria listed above.

Form of assistance

Cash grant

Current rates

2009-12 rates for the Special Assistance Schools grant
Type of school	2009	2010	2011	2012
Primary (including Prep)	$1842	$1897	$1979	$2164
Secondary	$2763	$2845	$2969	$3247

Allocation of funds

Each school's allocation for a school calendar year can be determined, for each of the primary and secondary sectors of the school, by multiplying funded enrolments as at the end of February by the advised per student funding rate for the particular year.

Payment details

As per state recurrent grant payments to all non-state schools

Payment details for the Special Assistance Schools grant
Payment	Target date of payment	Proportion of allocation paid	Enrolments
1	9 January	1/4 of estimated annual allocation	Funded enrolments counted in the February state census of the previous year
2	29 May	1/2 of annual allocation less January payment	Funded enrolments counted in February state census of the current year
3	19 June	Share of residual funds for the financial year	Funded enrolments counted in February state census of the current year
4	9 July	1/4 of annual allocation	Funded enrolments counted in February state census of the current year
5	7 September	1/4 of annual allocation	Funded enrolments counted in February state census of the current year

Duration of program

Ongoing

Data requirements

As per data requirements for all non-state schools, including the February State Census and the School Financial Data Collection in June of each year

Expenditure guidelines

The governing body of a Special Assistance School may use funds provided only for teaching and general staff salaries, professional development, curriculum development and implementation, maintenance and general operations.

The governing body must provide acquittal details of the funds to the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board on an annual basis. Failure to provide acquittal details is a ground for cessation of payments.

Policy reference

Parts 1 and 2 of Chapter 13 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 provides for the payment of State allowances for students attending non-state schools, including payments made under this program.

TRIM Ref 09/142342 provides the approval by Minister for Education, Training and Employment of the criteria listed above.

Contact

Office of Non-State Education

Telephone: (07) 3224 5536

Facsimile: (07) 3237 0004

Email: OfficeofNonStateEducation@qed.qld.gov.au

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