Queensland Joins National School Funding Deal, Unlocks $2.8 Billion Boost

The agreement raises the Commonwealth’s share of school funding from 20 to 25 percent and sets goals to improve attendance, literacy, and numeracy rates.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Queensland Premier David Crisafulli speak at a press conference at the Kedron State Emergency headquarters in Brisbane, Australia on March 5, 2025. AAP Image/Jono Searle

After prolonged negotiations, Queensland has officially signed the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, securing $2.8 billion (US$1.8 billion) in Commonwealth funding for its public schools over the next decade.

The funding aims to close educational gaps, enhance literacy and numeracy, and provide tailored support for disadvantaged students across Queensland.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the deal as a landmark moment.

“This is about investing in real reform with real funding—so Australian children get the best possible education,” he said.

He added that the move will ensure every student will receive the funding they deserve based on the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS) first proposed in the 2012 Gonski review.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, who travelled to Canberra for the final discussions, hailed the agreement as the “biggest investment in schools in our nation’s history.”

He added that funding will help Queensland address unique challenges due to its vast geography, regional diversity, and large number of rural and Indigenous schools.

“We have challenges because of that, not just geographically, but challenges that have historically been baked in. As a result, our NAPLAN results aren’t what we have wanted to see in recent years,” Crisafulli said.

Both Albanese and Education Minister Jason Clare noted that the funding should not be treated as a blank cheque, stressing that it must deliver tangible results.

Reforms and Key Targets Under the Agreement

As per the agreement, the Commonwealth will gradually increase its share of school funding from 20 percent to 25 percent of the SRS by 2034, with Queensland contributing the remaining 75 percent.

Th funding is tied to reforms aimed at improving student outcomes, including early literacy and numeracy checks, evidence-based teaching, catch-up tutoring, and better student wellbeing support through access to health professionals.

Additional measures focus on reducing teacher workload, enhancing professional learning, and improving teacher retention.

Key targets include raising high school completion rates by 2030, reducing the proportion of students needing extra literacy and numeracy support by 10 percent, and boosting student attendance to 91.4 percent.

The Agreement also aims to improve teacher engagement and to achieve a 69.7 percent enrolment rate in initial teacher education programs by 2035.

Will Queensland’s $2.8 Billion Be in the Budget?

When asked if Queensland’s $2.8 billion share would be included in the federal budget due on March 25, Albanese said most of the funding had already been accounted for in the mid-year budget update released in December.

However, he noted that additional investment for Queensland would be reflected in the pre-election fiscal outlook.

Queensland was the last state to sign the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement, following New South Wales earlier this month.

Crisafulli explained that it took time to negotiate and secure the best outcome for the state.

Northern Territory, Western Australia, Tasmania, and the Australian Capital Territory are expected to finalise their agreements by late 2024, with South Australia joining in January 2025.

Funding Challenges, NAPLAN Woes Fuel Reform Push

While the agreement seeks to tackle public school funding shortfalls, Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data underscores a growing trend favouring private education.

Independent school enrolments surged by 18.5 percent over the past five years, compared to just a 1 percent rise in government school enrolments. Catholic schools also saw increased numbers.

Although government schools still educate 63.4 percent of students, concerns about academic performance and limited resources have driven more families to choose private education, raising questions about the long-term viability of public school funding.

Adding urgency to these concerns, the release of the 2024 NAPLAN results reignited debate over education reform.

The data showed that one in ten students falls below basic literacy and numeracy standards, with 400,000 students needing catch-up tutoring.

Migrant students are performing better than their Australian-born peers, yet disparities remain. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are four times more likely to lag behind.

Boys continue to struggle disproportionately, with nearly double the number starting high school functionally illiterate compared to girls.

By Year 7, one in eight boys requires remedial reading support.

Nearly a quarter of the 1.3 million students tested across Years 3, 5, 7, and 9 were classified as “developing,” meaning they have not yet met the expected standards for their school year.

The federal government aims to close these gaps through increased funding and targeted reforms under the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement.