Investing for success

Purpose

To assist schools to improve student outcomes.

Background

In 2014, the Queensland Government commenced a four-year funding initiative to improve student outcomes and school performance. This program passed on to Queensland state schools $794 million provided by the Australian Government's Students First initiative.

In 2014 and 2015, $131 million and $183 million from this initiative were invested in state schools through Great Results Guarantee. The remaining $480 million in additional Students First funding was allocated in full across 2016 and 2017, through Investing for Success (I4S). The change of name reflected a change in allocative method, to apply a needs-based method that better directed funding to students and schools requiring the most support.

2019 Investing for Success

Investing for Success (I4S) was extended for 2018 through funding from the Australian Government’s Quality Schools, with approximately $250 million invested in Queensland state schools.

Approximately $260 in million funding will be made available in 2019, and will continue to be directed to students and schools requiring the most support, with school allocations calculated using the existing needs-based funding model. The funding model, indexed at 3.56%, includes base components calculated using student enrolments and loading components to provide additional resources based on student and school characteristics.

All state schools will be allocated at least the same amount of I4S funding in 2019 as they received in 2015. This provides schools with continuity for their school improvement initiatives and upholds the guarantee made in 2016 to continue to match 2015 funds, irrespective of enrolment fluctuations.

Each school will enter into an agreement outlining the:

• school's identified improvement targets
• evidence-based or innovative initiative/s to be implemented
• the activities and costs associated with those initiatives.

Independent Public Schools must establish an agreement with their school council and all other state schools are to enter into an agreement with the Director-General of the Department of Education (DoE).

Schools will publish their agreements on their websites so that the community can see how this funding is being used.

Schools have the flexibility and autonomy to decide how the funding should be invested. Student performance is measured throughout the year and schools are required to demonstrate to the school community how the extra funding is helping to maximise learning outcomes for students.

Schools will report to their communities each year on the success of their school improvement initiatives which utilise I4S funding.

Principals decide the best way of communicating this information to the school community.

Schools may choose to engage with the department's Standards of Evidence to enhance review processes and consider submitting an evidence in progress snapshot for feedback and consideration for publication on the Evidence Hub website to share evidence of improvement. Information for schools regarding these reporting options are available on OnePortal.

Duration of program

2015–2019

Eligibility

All state schools

Payment details

*Payments in Terms 1 and 2 are based on indicative funding allocations (based on 2018 enrolment figures). The Term 3 payment will reflect adjustments for increases or decreases in student enrolment, when 2019 enrolment data are finalised. The Term 4 payment will be 10% of the final allocation.

OneSchool Expenditure Cost Centre: 2070

Allocation of funds

Indicative Investing for Success school funding allocations are communicated to schools in September-October each year with allocations finalised in Term 1 of the payment year. Further information on the allocations and how these are calculated are available to schools on OnePortal. Principals may choose to share this information with their school communities in a variety of forums.

Data requirements

How to apply

Schools do not need to apply for this funding. Entitlements will be automatically calculated and paid.