July 2011     Australian students will benefit from over $138 million in Commonwealth reward funding for meeting targets under the Smarter Schools National Partnership for Literacy and Numeracy, School Education Minister Peter Garrett said.

States and Territories have received a share of the funding based on their performance against their specific targets in literacy and numeracy in 2010. 

“This is the first time that States and Territories are being measured against the targets they set for themselves, and rewarded for delivering improved literacy and numeracy results,” Mr Garrett said. “Overall we are seeing really significant progress in our nation’s schools, with States and Territories either meeting or making progress toward achieving about 80 per cent of their targets last year.

“But the Gillard Government is serious about wanting our education system to perform. We’re rewarding those who do well and withholding full reward funding from those states who haven’t met their agreed standards.  States and Territories have really had to demonstrate significant progress to receive their maximum available reward funding.”

The Federal Government is providing up to $540 million in funding over four years under the National Partnership for Literacy and Numeracy, including up to $350 million in reward payments in 2010-11 and 2011-12.

Mr Garrett said a total of $175 million had been set aside for reward payments this year, and the unused funding will be rolled over into reward payments for next year as an incentive for continued improvement.

“Each education department had the opportunity to negotiate their literacy and numeracy targets based on their own specific circumstances, including measures such as participation in NAPLAN testing, improvements in NAPLAN results, and increased student attendance,” he said.

The Partnership focuses on improving literacy and numeracy, building stronger school leadership, and using performance information to identify where students need support.  Schools have used the Partnership funding to invest in a range of innovative teaching programs, such as employing literacy and numeracy coaches, delivering personalised learning plans for disadvantaged and Indigenous students, and targeted home reading programs.

Further information about the Smarter Schools National Partnerships is available at www.smarterschools.gov.au.

From information provided by the Minister for School Education, 28 June, 2011.

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