Garrett raises tempo on school reform

THE momentum for reforming the school funding system is building, with the federal government foreshadowing legislation.

THE momentum for reforming the school funding system is building, with the federal government foreshadowing that legislation will be introduced in the next session of parliament, which resumes next week, and the Labor Party launching a Facebook page in support of change.

School Education Minister Peter Garrett has promised to pass legislation this year implementing a new funding model in response to recommendations from the independent review led by businessman David Gonski.

The list of legislation proposed for the spring parliamentary session released by the Prime Minister's office on Thursday night includes a bill to "implement school funding reform and deliver funding certainty for states and territories and education providers".

The ALP launched a Facebook page yesterday in support of the Gonski report, calling for "a fairer school funding model".

"The Gonski Review into school funding has seen the government consult with parents and school communities around the country," it says.

"One thing is clear: we need to do more to have a fairer school funding model and lift our education standards."

The federal government is expected to release its formal response to the Gonski report in the next week or two, following six months of further consultation with schools and parents, and working groups of officials testing the model proposed by the report.

The recommendations have been publicly supported by Labor backbenchers as well as teaching unions, public-school principals and parents groups and big business. The Business Council of Australia chief executive Jennifer Westacott said the Gonski review provided a sound framework for change and the government should "get on" and implement its recommendations.

In the latest issue of the Australian Education Union's magazine, Ms Westacott says the BCA supports the allocation of base funding allocation for each student, with additional funds provided to less-advantaged students to address "the unacceptable gap" in educational outcomes between children from disadvantaged and affluent backgrounds.