Purpose
The Back to school boost is a Queensland Government initiative that will provide an annual contribution of $100 for every primary school student (Prep to Year 6) from 2026 to assist parents and families with the cost of schooling essentials.
Duration of program
2026–2029
Eligibility
Primary school students (Prep to Year 6) who are:
- enrolled in Queensland state and non-state schools including special schools, schools of distance education
- registered for home education.
Allocation of funds
Information for schools
For state schools
The Back to school boost funding is calculated on full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolment census data. For most schools, payments will be made automatically without the need for manual claim forms. See
part 1 for payment details and timeframes.
Given the additional complexity of enrolment profiles in Schools of Distance Education (SDE's), separate claim processes are used. SDE's will receive an alert from the department to provide FTE information and the claim is administered through the Services Catalogue Online (SCO) system. See
part 2 for the payment details and timeframes.
Funding will be distributed to state schools in 2 instalments: 80% in February based on the August census (previous year) and the remaining 20% applied in Term 2, adjusted according to updated February census data.
Non-state schools
See
part 4 for payment details and time frames.
- Only 1 entitlement of the $100 Back to school boost is payable per eligible student per annum.
- Funding is calculated on full-time equivalent (FTE) enrolment census data.
Payments to non-state schools will be made at the beginning of the year.
Funds will be distributed directly to independent and grammar schools and distributed to Catholic schools through Catholic Education Queensland Limited in two instalments:
- 80% in February based on the previous year's February Non-state School Accreditation Board (NSSAB) Census
- the remaining 20% applied in Term 2, adjusted according to the updated February NSSAB census data.
Information for parents
For state schools
The Back to school boost is a $100 credit for each primary school student (Prep to year 6) to help reduce the cost of school essentials. A $100 credit will be placed on the account of each eligible primary school student at the start of the school year.
Parents have the choice to allocate the funding to reduce the cost schooling resources or activities, including:
- Student Resource Scheme (SRS)
- school-organised camps, excursions and extra-curricular activities.
For non-state schools
The non state sector will be responsible for the administration of the $100 Back to school boost, including demonstrating how this will be applied to reduce school related costs and determining how they will refund parents of students who leave their school part way through the year.
For home education
Parents of children registered for home education are paid the allowance directly by the department. See
part 3 for more information.
Payment details
Part 1—primary schools and special schools
| February |
Initial payment of 80% of entitlement based on FTE state school enrolments (July census from previous year) |
| May |
Adjustment payment based on February enrolment data for the current year (subject to availability of validated census data) |
| October |
Supplementary payments based on July enrolment data.
New enrolments entering schools between March and July will be identified and payments made.
No payments will be made to schools for the few students who enrol and then leave between the February and July census dates.
No payments will be made to schools for students who enrol after the first Friday in August
|
| January |
Milpera State High School (2024).
A supplementary payment based on new enrolments from early August to 30 November. A claim for supplementary payment form will be sent out late October and required to be returned by the end of November
|
Part 2—School of Distance Education
| April |
Combined initial and adjustment payment based on eligible students at the end of February and submitted via a services catalogue online claim to School Financial Resourcing by 31 March |
| August |
Supplementary payments based on eligible students enrolled between February and 31 July and not previously claimed by any other Queensland school. Claims to be submitted via services catalogue online to School Financial Resourcing by 15 August |
Part 3—students registered for home education
| April |
Eligible students included in approved School Appropriation payment Application (SAPA) Home Education Unit batches |
| August |
Eligible students included in approved SAPA Home Education Unit batches, not previously claimed in the same year |
| November |
Eligible students included in approved SAPA Home Education Unit batches, not previously claimed in the same year. Payments are not processed for claims received after 30 November |
Part 4—non-state schools
| February |
80% of the estimated entitlement in February, based on a school's previous year Survey Data Collection |
| June |
Balance of the entitlement in June, based on a school's survey data collection for that year |
Contribution amount
| Prep to Year 6 |
$100 per student per annum |
Refunds
Parents may request a refund of any remaining credit balance in their account if the student leaves the school or graduates at the end of Year 6. Please contact your school administration to organise this.
How to apply
All schools in Queensland will receive the Back to school boost funding automatically based on census data. No manual claim forms will be required.
From the start of the 2026 school year, a $100 credit will be applied to the student's account.
Parents can choose what the $100 credit is applied to. Examples of where the credit can be applied include; the school's Student Resource Scheme (SRS) or other method for supplying books and resources, school-organised camps, excursions, uniforms, learn to swim programs or other extracurricular activities.
Data requirements
| Enrolments (primary schools and special schools) |
OneSchool (OS) data maintained by schools |
February and July |
| Enrolments (non state primary schools) |
State survey data collection for non-state schools |
February |
| Students enrolled in Schools of Distance Education (SDE) |
Eligible students enrolled by end of February and have submitted a claim to the school financial resourcing |
March and August |
| Students registered for home education |
The Home Education Unit submits approved SAPA batch |
March and August |
For further information regarding the Back to school boost, please refer to the following:
- Student Resource Scheme OnePortal page (Department of Education employees only)
Contact
For school enquiries regarding Back to school boost payments, please contact:
School Financial Resourcing
Phone: (07) 3034 5817
For parent enquiries regarding eligibility and ways to use the Back to school boost payment, please contact your school directly.