ACT invests $1.2 billion in schools, shifts to needs-based funding
The ACT government is moving to needs-based school funding with a $1.2 billion investment and 107 new staff positions in 2027.
The ACT Education Directorate is overhauling how it funds public schools, moving from a one-size-fits-all approach to a model based on what each school's students actually need. Education Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith announced the government will invest more than $1.2 billion in public education in 2026-27.
In the 2027 school year, an extra more than $40 million and 107 new staff positions will be added across the system. The change means schools with students facing greater challenges will receive more support.
Instead of basing funding on diagnosis alone, the model targets money toward the actual support each student needs. The shift follows a School Resourcing Review completed earlier this year.
Principals recently received draft budgets showing how their schools will be affected under the new system. Whitlam School will open in 2027, bringing the total to 94 public schools serving more than 50,000 students across the ACT.
- More than $1.2 billion in 2026-27
- Total investment
- 107 in 2027
- New staff positions
- More than $40 million in 2027
- Additional funding
- 94 (with Whitlam opening in 2027)
- Total public schools
Why it mattersFairer school funding means students who struggle most will get more resources, while the wider investment signals government commitment to making public schools a genuine choice for all families.
AustraliaACT families will see changes to how their local schools are funded and staffed, with additional teachers and support staff arriving in 2027 based on student need rather than fixed allocations.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 13 d ago
