Federal funding to boost local decision making in ACT government schools

Australian Capital Territory government schools will now benefit from greater local autonomy through funding provided under the Australian Government’s $70 million Independent Public Schools (IPS) initiative. Minister for Education, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP welcomed the ACT’s commitment to putting students first and supporting government schools to make decisions based on the needs of their school communities. “The Australian Government’s Independent Public Schools initiative will encourage greater autonomy in all 86 ACT schools by empowering local decision making,” Mr Pyne said. “This funding will provide professional development and training for school governing bodies, principals and school leadership teams to assist them to make decisions in partnership with their own school community,” Mr Pyne said. “Having the freedom to operate more independently will allow ACT government schools to better meet the needs of their students.” Between 2014 and 2017, the Australian Capital Territory will receive close to $1 million from the Australian Government. Mr Pyne said the IPS initiative is part of the Government’s Students First approach, which focusses on four key areas that will make a difference to students: · teacher quality · school autonomy · parental engagement · strengthening the curriculum. For further information, visit www.studentsfirst.gov.au.