This week marks one year of the Better and Fairer Schools Agreements (BFSA), which is delivering more funding and better support for public school students in Macarthur.

Under the agreements, the Albanese Government is contributing an estimated $16.5 billion in additional funding for public schools across the nation. There will be an additional $50 billion in the decade that follows.

This is the biggest new investment in public schools by an Australian Government ever delivered and includes an estimated additional $4.8 billion for New South Wales to be invested in public schools throughout NSW over the next decade. 

This puts all local public schools in Macarthur on a path to full and fair funding for the first time.

Additional funding is tied to evidence-based reforms that will lift education standards and help kids in Macarthur and throughout NSW to catch up, keep up, and finish school.

This includes:

• Year 1 phonics checks and early years of schooling numeracy checks
• evidence-based teaching practices
• more individualised support for students who need it, such as small group tutoring, and
• greater access to wellbeing supports.

It also locks in clear, measurable targets for Governments to work towards to:

• improve literacy and numeracy
• lift student attendance
• lift the national rate of students receiving a Year 12 certificate
• build a strong and sustainable teaching workforce.

Under the Agreements, all states and territories will produce an annual report that sets out publicly available information on progress to implement the reforms and reach agreed targets.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Attendance is going back up. Teacher numbers are going back up. The number of students finishing high school is going back up

“This is good news but it’s just the start. There’s a lot more work to do. That’s what this agreement is all about.

“It’s the biggest investment in public schools ever and it’s not a blank cheque.

“It’s tied to real reforms.

“Things like evidence-based teaching, phonics checks, numeracy checks and small group tutoring.

“The Liberals did a lot of damage when they were last in power.

“They cut funding to public schools and after that, attendance dropped, the number of teaching students dropped, and the number of kids finishing high school dropped.

“Literacy and numeracy rates also flatlined.

“We’re fixing this.

“This report shows we’re making progress, but there’s a lot more work to do.”

Quotes attributable to Dr Mike Freelander MP:

“The additional funding the Albanese Government is investing in public schools will benefit children here in Macarthur as across the country.

“Our government promised to deliver a better and fairer education system and that’s what we’re delivering.”