Investing for Success

Tabled Report 12: 2017–18

Tabled date

2018-03-20

Report year

2017-18

Education

Entities audited

Not identified in the published HTML audit scope.

Recommendations

1. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Education (formerly Department of Education and Training)

   considers integrating future Investing for Success funding into broader school funding, improvement strategies and processes. (Chapter 2)

2. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Education (formerly Department of Education and Training)

   reviews the Investing for Success allocation model to ensure ongoing transparency, equity and continuous improvement of the needs-based approach (Chapter 2)  

   This should include:

   • regular reviews of schools’ funding needs and categories of disadvantage
   • clear communication of future changes to funding categories and amounts.

3. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Education (formerly Department of Education and Training)

   clarifies Investing for Success governance structures (Chapters 2 and 3)

   This should include:

   • accountabilities and responsibilities of assistant regional directors and principals
   • the appropriateness of community accountability models (parents and citizens’ associations and school councils)
   • oversight mechanisms for temporary school staffing employment decisions.

4. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Education (formerly Department of Education and Training)

   strengthens monitoring, reporting, and evaluation processes to better link investment decisions to school improvement outcomes. (Chapter 2)

5. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Education (formerly Department of Education and Training)

   provides more targeted guidance to schools in need of additional support to further lift the quality of school improvement plans, targets, and measures. (Chapter 2 and 3)  

6. QAO's text Addressed to: the Department of Education (formerly Department of Education and Training)

   provides greater support and training to principals and assistant regional directors in the areas identified by surveyed principals during the audit, including strategic financial management, program evaluation, monitoring and reporting, and stakeholder engagement/community consultation. (Chapter 2)

Authoritative report — Queensland Audit Office

Report PDF on QAO