Policy
This policy sets out the minimum expectations for Mobile Area Resource Centre (MARC) and Mobile Art Craft Centre (MACC) services operating in Victorian government schools.
Summary
- MARC and MACC services are offered to small rural and regional Victorian government schools, enabling them to provide students with access to a broader range of texts and educational resources.
- MARC services provide literacy-based programs.
- MACC services provide art-based programs.
- Funding for MARC and MACC services is provided through the Student Resource Package.
- Central offices, regional offices and participating schools all have specific roles and responsibilities in the delivery of MARC and MACC services.
- The MARC and MACC guidelines in the Guidance tab detail these roles and responsibilities as well as outlining the requirements for service delivery, driving and vehicle maintenance.
Details
About the service
MARC and MACC services enable small rural and regional Victorian government schools to provide students with access to a broader range of texts and educational resources. MARC is a mobile library service that provides literacy-based programs. MACC is a mobile art classroom service that provides art-based programs.
MARC and MACC services aim to:
- provide fair and equitable service coverage to small rural and regional Victorian government schools
- provide access to high quality resources to support student learning
- support and enrich teaching and learning programs aligned with the Victorian Curriculum F–10
- deliver high quality programs aligned to the goals and priorities set by the established MARC and MACC school cluster committee of management
- participate in collaborative learning communities within and across the MARC and MACC school clusters.
The MARC and MACC services model is comprised of base schools and serviced schools. The term ‘base school’ refers to the school receiving the MARC and/or MACC funding, and where the MARC and/or MACC teacher is employed. The term ‘serviced schools’ refers to schools receiving services from the base school to which they are assigned.
MARC and MACC teachers employed by the base school work collaboratively with serviced schools to increase access to a broader range of books and other educational resources, to improve engagement in relevant curriculum areas and improve learning outcomes.
Each cluster of base and serviced schools is required to establish a committee of management that is comprised of the base school principal, the MARC and/or MACC teacher and serviced school’s representative. Further information about the role and function of base schools, serviced schools and committees of management can be found in the Guidance tab.
Service eligibility
MARC and MACC services are offered to small rural and regional Victorian government schools. MARC and MACC eligibility is generally targeted at schools with fewer than 100 primary level (F–6 or equivalent) enrolments.
It is recommended that serviced schools are within 100 km of a base school, to maximise the amount of time MARC and MACC teachers spend at schools and minimise the time spent travelling between schools.
Enquiries related to service eligibility, including requests to commence or terminate a MARC or MACC service and provision should be raised by the committee of management with the regional service support manager.
Funding
MARC and MACC services are funded through the Student Resource Package (SRP). Funding is allocated to the base school, calculated on teacher FTE. As well as teacher salary, the funding covers the operational requirements of the services. Base schools also receive an annual casual clerical hours entitlement to support the management of MARC and MACC services.
Allocated funding must only be spent on MARC and MACC programs.
Further information about MARC and MACC funding can be found in the SRP Guide at MARC and MACC Grant and MARC and MACC teachers.
School councils may request parents to make voluntary financial contributions and payments to support MARC and MACC programs, consistent with the Parent Payments Policy.
Service delivery requirements
The delivery of MARC and MACC services is a shared responsibility between:
- central and regional offices
- base schools and serviced schools
- the committee of management established in each cluster
- MARC and MACC teachers.
Refer to the MARC and MACC guidelines in the Guidance tab for detailed information about each of these roles and responsibilities. The guidelines also outline the requirements for:
- service delivery and timetabling
- driving and vehicle maintenance.
It is expected that all primary level (F–6 or equivalent) students in each serviced school have access to the MARC and MACC program.
Related policies
Reviewed 25 January 2023