Special assistance schools for disengaged students surge in Victoria, funding uncertainty looms
Enrolment in the independent sector has risen from 502 to 4,726 in a decade, but a $23m repayment dispute highlights tensions over disability funding guidelines
Schools that cater to students who have disengaged from mainstream education are among the fastest-growing in Victoria, with enrolment in the independent sector jumping from 502 students a decade ago to 4,726 last year. But principals, already grappling with soaring waitlists, say federal funding guidelines are too rigid, and a recent audit dispute has raised uncertainty over how the schools are financed.