Prior to the last election the Commonwealth Government promised to roll out the ‘Empowering Local Schools Initiative’ providing grants to assist schools in improving decision making.  Phase One of this Initiative will be open for submissions early in the New Year.

The Initiative will be implemented through a National Partnership Agreement with state and territory governments and funding agreements with each of the state and territory Catholic Education Commissions and Associations of Independent Schools on behalf of other non-government schools.  As a result each AISs will be responsible for administration of the Program in their respective State/Territory. 

Funding has only been provided for a relatively small number of participating schools in the initial stage, some 1,000 schools across all sectors nationally.  Regional schools are being targeted in the Initiative.

Phase One of the Program will focus on increased decision-making in participating schools in three areas considered important in enabling schools to make decisions about how best to improve teaching and learning:

• governance (e.g. strategic planning, school operation decision making structures, community and parental engagement)
• funding and infrastructure (e.g. allocation of resources, infrastructure management, planning and maintenance), and
• workforce (e.g. varying the mix of staff, recruitment, performance management).

Participating schools will receive a start-up grant of between $40,000 and $50,000 to assist them to manage their increased decision-making responsibilities effectively; participating schools will also be able to access training and professional development opportunities.

We understand that further detailed information in relation to the application process will be provided by AISs early in the New Year with the potential for activities to start in the second half of 2012 or 2013.

Schools have previously identified governance and leadership as a key area for improvement.  This Initiative provides an opportunity for a few schools to not only meet local needs but possibly also fund the development of resources that may have wider application and be able to benefit all Christian schools. 

All schools should start thinking about what might be funded under this project and how decision making within their school could be improved. CSA would be happy to work with schools on designing projects to submit and can see considerable potential benefits for Christian schools through this initiative.

Any school wanting further information should contact the Executive Officer in your state or the National Office.