Student Resource Package – Equity Funding (Student-Based Funding)

EAL Program Funding (Reference 26)

EAL program funding for mainstream schools

The EAL program funding for primary and secondary schools in the Student Resource Package (SRP) consists primarily of EAL Index funding (Levels 1 to 5) and is provided to schools that meet a pre-determined threshold. Schools that experience a significant increase to their EAL student profile during the school year which takes them beyond that threshold are also eligible for EAL Contingency funding. Refer to EAL Contingency (Reference 27).

EAL Index funding (Levels 1 to 5)

EAL Index funding is made available to schools to staff EAL programs with EAL teachers and Multicultural Education Aides (MEAs).

EAL Index funding is based on data collected from mainstream schools in the preceding August school census. New schools that did not participate in the preceding August census can apply for EAL Contingency funding if their EAL student profile meets the EAL Index funding threshold.

Eligibility

• Primary
• Secondary
• Primary/Secondary combined

Allocation of EAL index funding

EAL Index funding is allocated to schools at campus level to provide EAL programs for students based on the number of students who:

• come from a language background other than English
• speak a language other than English at home as their main language
• have been enrolled in an Australian school for less than 5 years
• attract SRP funding.

Schools should plan programs that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the changes that occur to their EAL populations during the school year. This can be due to new enrolments or students transferring or leaving.

Calculation

EAL funding is based on an integrated weighted index for primary and secondary students.

This is applied to the number of students identified in the August school census as meeting the EAL Index funding criteria.

A school’s EAL allocation includes a weighting based on the school’s densities of Student Family Occupations (SFO weighting). Refer to Reference 11 for the calculation of SFO.

The SFO weighting reflects the high correlation between student outcomes and family occupation to target funding to schools with EAL learners who have the greatest need.

A campus is required to reach a threshold of EAL funding (EAL index funding + EAL for Likely Refugee Background funding) before EAL Index funding will apply. Thresholds are applied separately to primary and secondary students for Primary/Secondary combined campuses.

Rates – 2024

Funding is determined by:

List 1: EAL Index funding thresholds

• Primary: $28,266.78
• Secondary: $53,911.90

List 2: Index levels and level descriptions

• Level 1 – Foundation – weighting of 1.00 applied
• Level 2 – 2 to 5 years in Australian school Years 1 to 6 – weighting of 2.00 applied
• Level 3 – <2 years in Australian school Years 1 to 6 – weighting of 4.00 applied
• Level 4 – 2 to 5 years in Australian school Years 7 to 12 – weighting of 5.09 applied
• Level 5 – <2 years in Australian school Years 7 to 12 – weighting of 7.64 applied

List 3: Further weightings are applied to campuses based on the campus densities of Student Family Occupations (SFO)

• Level 1 – where a SFO density is less than or equal to 52.73% (0.5273) – a 0.6 weight is applied
• Level 2 – where a SFO density greater than 52.74% (0.5274) but less than or equal to 54.69% (0.5469) – a 1.00 weight is applied
• Level 3 – where a SFO density is greater than or equal to 54.70% (0.5470) – a 1.40 weight is applied

The combined effect of Lists 1, 2 and 3 results in the following matrix:

^{*Due to rounding some rates do not multiply exactly by the weightings above.}

Teacher salary charges to schools in 2024 will continue to be based on actual payroll debits for individual staff as reflected on eduPay. This includes the actual cost of annual leave loading and all allowances, such as higher duties and special payments. Also included are non-cash benefits for teachers.

EAL for Likely Refugee Background students

An additional loading is provided to campuses:

• that have enrolments eligible for EAL Index funding and
• have an SFO weighting below 1.4 (this equates to an SFO density greater than 0.547) and
• have 10 or more Likely Refugee Background (LRB) students enrolled.

In these cases, the school is provided with funding for the LRB students at an SFO weighting of 1.4.

If eligible, the following lines (as applicable) will also appear in a school’s SRP budget details: EAL for Refugees – Primary, or EAL for Refugees – Secondary. As with EAL Index funding, a campus is required to reach a threshold of EAL funding (EAL Index funding + EAL for LRB funding) before EAL for LRB funding will apply. Thresholds are applied separately to primary and secondary students for Primary/Secondary combined campuses.

EAL program funding for English language schools and centres

English language schools and centres and the Virtual New Arrivals Program receive EAL Program funding to support a targeted number of students enrolled in their new arrivals programs. The English language schools and some of the centres also provide services through outreach and transition services to newly arrived students who are not currently enrolled in a full-time new arrivals program. English language schools and centres or the Virtual New Arrivals Program that experience a significant increase to their enrolments before week 5 in term 1 that requires provision of an additional class are eligible for adjustment to their target enrolments for the confirmed SRP. From week 6 in term 1 and beyond they may also be eligible for EAL Contingency funding. Refer to EAL Contingency (Reference 27).

Funding for English language schools and centres is based on target enrolments established by the Statewide Programs and Tech Schools Division in consultation with regions, schools and centres. Classes are funded at a student to teacher ratio of 13:1.

English language schools receive a per target enrolment rate and a base to provide both safety net and support. Both allocations are multiples of the rates that apply in standard settings.

English language centres are campuses of a primary or secondary school. Base support is provided by the primary or secondary school and the centre receives a per target enrolment rate. The Virtual New Arrivals Program receives a per target enrolment rate at English language centre rates.

EAL program funding to English language schools and centres is allocated at campus level.

Eligibility

• English language schools
• English language centres
• Virtual EAL New Arrivals Program

2024 English language school and centre target enrolment rates

In an English language school, primary target enrolments receive a total of $14,538 made up of:

• Credit: $13,694 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Primary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))
• Cash: $844 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Primary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))

Calculation – for example, an English language school with 26 primary enrolments would receive the following:

• 26 primary enrolments × $14,538 = $377,988

In an English language school, secondary target enrolments receive a total of $17,562 made up of:

• Credit: $16,690 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Secondary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))
• Cash: $872 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Secondary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))

Calculation – for example, an English language school with 52 secondary enrolments would receive the following:

• 52 secondary enrolments × $17,562 = $913,224

In an English language centre, primary target enrolments receive a total of $15,172 made up of:

• Credit: $14,407 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Primary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))
• Cash: $765 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Primary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))

Calculation – for example, an English language centre with 26 primary enrolments would receive the following:

• 26 primary enrolments × $15,172 = $394,472

In an English language centre, secondary target enrolments receive a total of $18,409 made up of:

• Credit: $17,543 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Secondary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))
• Cash: $866 (referenced in your SRP budget report under Secondary per Student Non-Standard Setting (NS))

Calculation – for example, an English language centre with 52 secondary enrolments would receive the following:

• 52 secondary enrolments × $18,409 = $957,268

Multicultural Education Aides

An allocation for the employment of Multicultural Education Aides (MEAs) is made to English language schools and centres based on target enrolments. The current student to MEA ratio is 65:1. Campuses with target enrolments below 65 are entitled to a 1.0 FTE MEA. For campuses with target enrolments above 65, the 65:1 ratio applies.

The 2024 MEA rate is $67,572.

EAL student services

In addition, English language schools and centres receive funding to provide services to EAL students who are not yet or no longer enrolled in a full-time intensive program. These services include outreach services and transition support for high needs Likely Refugee Background students. This is paid at the 2024 salary rate of $134,074:

• Credit: $130,828
• Cash: $3,246.

EAL student services (Cluster funding)

In regional and rural areas, primary and secondary schools that coordinate EAL cluster programs are provided with funding to employ EAL specialists to provide advice and guidance to teachers in cluster schools to build their understanding, knowledge and capacity to meet EAL student learning needs.