Better and Fairer Schools Agreement

Better and Fairer Schools Agreement

The Western Australian and Commonwealth governments have signed a new school funding agreement that will deliver an estimated additional $1.6 billion in Commonwealth and State funding from 2025 to 2029 for Western Australia’s public school system.

The new Better and Fairer Schools Agreement (BFSA) will make WA the first State in Australia where the public school system is fully and fairly funded at 100 per cent of the Schooling Resource Standard, by 2026. The agreement starts on 1 January 2025 and replaces the current National School Reform Agreement, which will expire on 31 December 2024.

Key reforms

The additional Commonwealth funding is tied to reforms in 3 key areas:

  1. equity and excellence
  2. student wellbeing for learning and engagement
  3. a strong and sustainable workforce.

The reforms and additional funding will drive real improvements in the outcomes for Western Australia’s public school students, especially for students from low socio-economic backgrounds, regional and remote students, students with disability, Aboriginal students and students from a language background other than English.

The key reforms include:
  • Evidence-based teaching and targeted, intensive support such as small-group tutoring to provide additional support for public school students who most need it.
  • A Year 1 phonics check and a numeracy check in the early years of schooling to identify early students who need additional help.
  • Greater wellbeing support for learning and engagement, including design and trial of place-based approaches to delivering a full‑service schools model.
  • Identifying opportunities to reduce workloads and better support teachers and school leaders through professional learning
  • Support and pathways for people to transition to a teaching career in Western Australian public schools, with a focus on people who are Aboriginal, have a disability or from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
More information:

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