The Schooling Resource Standard in 2026: Analyzing Disability Loadings and Public-Private Funding Models
TL;DR: This article analyzes the structure of the Schooling Resource Standard in 2026, detailing the specific disability and demographic loadings used to calculate public funding across Australian government and non-government schools.
The Mechanics of the Schooling Resource Standard
The allocation of public funding to Australian schools is governed by the Schooling Resource Standard (SRS), a funding model designed to deliver equitable educational opportunities across all sectors. In 2026, the SRS baseline funding is set at $14,467 per primary student and $18,180 per secondary student. This base funding is designed to cover the core costs of delivering education.
To account for the varying costs associated with different student demographics and institutional profiles, the SRS applies additional base loadings. These targeted loadings are essential for schools servicing high-need populations and include allocations for:
- Disability: Providing funding for specialized learning plans, physical accessibility, and specialized support staff.
- Low English Proficiency: Assisting students from non-English speaking backgrounds to acquire language skills.
- Socioeducational Disadvantage: Adjusting funding based on parental education levels and occupational categories.
- Indigenous Status: Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
- School Size and Location: Addressing the higher operating costs of small or geographically remote schools.
For non-government schools (Catholic and independent), the baseline funding received from the government is reduced dynamically based on an assessment of the parents' taxable income, ensuring that public resources are directed where they are most needed.
Funding Disparities Between Public and Private Systems
Analysis of school financial data shows a clear divide in how public funds are distributed between public and private educational sectors. On average, government schools receive about $26,000 per student in total government funding. In contrast, non-government schools receive an average of $15,000 per student from state and federal governments.
At the lower funding threshold, several high-fee independent schools in Sydney—including SCEGGS, Redlands, Shore, and Bellevue Hill's Scots College—received less than $5,000 per student in public funding. According to reports from the left-leaning think tank The Australia Institute, these high-fee schools charge substantial private tuition fees and invest heavily in non-educational amenities and facilities, while the public system continues to face funding shortfalls relative to baseline benchmarks.
Conversely, public schools with low per-student funding, such as Dulwich High School of Visual Arts and Design, The Ponds High, and Sefton High, each received less than $15,000 per student in government funding.
This funding distribution is debated by policy analysts. Blaise Joseph, the education director at the right-leaning think tank The Centre for Independent Studies, argues that government funding for private schools is essential to provide school choice for low- and middle-income families who otherwise could not afford non-government alternatives. This perspective suggests that funding non-government schools helps maintain educational equity by preventing choice from being exclusive to high-income parents.
Disadvantage Concentration in the Public Sector
The funding debate is further complicated by the high concentration of disadvantaged students within the public school system. Data compiled by researcher Dr. Michele Bruniges reveals that 94 percent of Australian schools with a high concentration of disadvantage are public schools. In New South Wales, this figure rises to 97 percent.
Because public schools bear the vast majority of the responsibility for educating highly disadvantaged student cohorts, the proper indexing and delivery of disability, geographic, and socioeconomic loadings remain a critical factor in national educational outcomes.
Key Takeaways
- 2026 SRS Rates: Base funding is established at $14,467 per primary student and $18,180 per secondary student.
- Targeted Loadings: Extra funding is applied based on student disability, low English proficiency, Indigenous status, parental socioeconomic background, and school location.
- Average Funding: Government schools receive an average of $26,000 per student in public funds, compared to $15,000 for non-government schools.
- Private Funding Minimums: Some high-fee schools receive less than $5,000 per student, while some public schools receive less than $15,000.
- Concentrated Disadvantage: Public schools educate the overwhelming majority of highly disadvantaged student cohorts, representing 94% of highly disadvantaged schools nationally and 97% in NSW.