Objectives of Current approach Global Budget concept funding delivery system Autonomy and flexibility Schools leaders have control over staffing decisions. Staffing Schools leaders retain control over staffing decisions. The in resourcing decisions entitlement covers the payment of qualified teachers only. Global Budget would provide greater flexibility to make Operational grants must be used for non teaching and decisions about the balance between teaching staffing, teachers employed above staffing entitlement. expertise and other inputs. Support schools’ Currently there is a difficult administrative process for The delivery of all funding through a monetary value would collaboration and transferring staffing entitlements between schools, which make it administratively easier for schools to collaborate and sharing of resources hinders the sharing of expertise, although some informal share resources. This could be useful for sharing both arrangements are occurring. teaching and non teaching resources ‘barter’ Simple to administer for Staffing entitlement reduces the complexity of financial As all costs are translated into a dollar value this means that it schools and the Crown planning and management for schools (although they have to is simpler to transfer costs between schools. It is also easier manage teacher entitlement). However, it is more to understand the status of the whole budget at all times. complicated for the Crown due to the need to account for Staff would continue to be paid through the central payroll teachers employed under a range of different employment system. contexts against the entitlement. This is more difficult than accounting for dollar salary values. Transparency in Resourcing through staffing entitlement may be working The notional rate for all teachers will be more transparent as approach against equity objectives, leading to a disproportionate share schools with similar profiles and needs will receive similar of more experienced teachers being employed by schools budget allocations. Equity issues around staffing choices are which are viewed as better places to work (without them not addressed in the Global Budget having to bear the additional costs).
Objectives of funding delivery system Current approach Global Budget concept Autonomy and flexibility in resourcing decisions Schools leaders have control over staffing decisions. Staffing entitlement covers the payment of qualified teachers only. Operational grants must be used for non teaching and teachers employed above staffing entitlement. Schools leaders retain control over staffing decisions. The Global Budget would provide greater flexibility to make decisions about the balance between teaching staffing, expertise and other inputs. Support schools’ collaboration and sharing of resources Currently there is a difficult administrative process for transferring staffing entitlements between schools, which hinders the sharing of expertise, although some informal ‘barter’ arrangements are occurring. The delivery of all funding through a monetary value would make it administratively easier for schools to collaborate and share resources. This could be useful for sharing both teaching and non teaching resources Simple to administer for schools and the Crown Staffing entitlement reduces the complexity of financial planning and management for schools (although they have to manage teacher entitlement). However, it is more complicated for the Crown due to the need to account for teachers employed under a range of different employment contexts against the entitlement. This is more difficult than accounting for dollar salary values. As all costs are translated into a dollar value this means that it is simpler to transfer costs between schools. It is also easier to understand the status of the whole budget at all times. Staff would continue to be paid through the central payroll system. Transparency in approach Resourcing through staffing entitlement may be working against equity objectives, leading to a disproportionate share of more experienced teachers being employed by schools which are viewed as better places to work (without them having to bear the additional costs). The notional rate for all teachers will be more transparent as schools with similar profiles and needs will receive similar budget allocations. Equity issues around staffing choices are not addressed in the Global Budget
School-Global-Budget-Concept.docx