2020 NCCD Guidelines revised

The NCCD Guidelines have been revised for 2020 to incorporate special provisions due to the impact COVID-19 has had on schools’ operations as follows:

1. The evidence of adjustments required has been reduced from a minimum of 10 weeks to a minimum of six weeks, in the 12 months preceding the reference date (refer section C.2.1 of the Guidelines).
2. The evidence requirements have been revised for specific cohorts of students with disability (refer the new section C.4.1 of the Guidelines):

• Foundation (Year 1 minus 1) year students;
• new enrolments. This may include:
  • students who commenced at the school in 2020;
  • students transitioning between levels of education, e.g. primary to secondary school, or moving campuses;
• students with newly diagnosed or newly imputed disability; and
• students attending special assistance schools.

For these cohorts, schools will only be required to collect evidence of assessed student needs, adjustments provided and consultation and collaboration with the student and/or parents, guardians or carers, or associates. Evidence of ongoing monitoring and review of adjustments will not be required.

The special provisions apply to the 2020 NCCD collection only. These changed arrangements are not mandatory. They reflect minimum requirements to ensure all eligible students with disability can be included in the 2020 NCCD. To ensure continuity of best practice, data quality and consistency, schools are encouraged to observe the normal NCCD requirements where they have capacity to do so.

The revised Guidelines will be available shortly at Revised 2020 NCCD Guidelines.

Now available: Schools’ 2020 capacity to contribute scores
From 2020, a new Direct Measure of Income (DMI) of capacity to contribute (CTC) replaces the previous area-based socio-economic status (SES) score measure to determine the CTC for most non-government schools.

Schools’ 2020 capacity to contribute (CTC) scores have been determined and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment has provided written advice to approved authorities.

View your 2020 CTC scores in the Non-government schools’ 2020 CTC scores table.

The table provides information on why a school’s final CTC score may differ from the score as under the Regulation.

About the Direct Measure of Income (DMI)

The DMI is based on the median income of parents or guardians of students at a non-government school.

To support a smooth transition to the new DMI, in 2020 and 2021, schools will have their funding based on either their 2011 Census SES score, their 2016 Census SES score or their DMI score – whichever is the most financially beneficial.

The new direct measure will apply to all schools by 2022.

For more information about DMI calculations, please read our DMI factsheet.

For more information on 2020 capacity to contribute scores, the DMI methodology and the CTC review process is available on the department’s Quality Schools webpage.

Special Circumstances - School hygiene assistance fund
The Australian Government will provide an additional $10 million to improve COVID-19 hygiene measures in non-government schools that plan to have 50 per cent of their students back in the classroom by 1 June 2020. The Special Circumstances funding will be available to school to help cover hygiene costs for items such as soap, hand sanitiser, classroom cleaning products and additional cleaning costs. Funding is intended to help slow the spread of COVID-19 and is expected to be paid in June 2020.

Further information can be found on the school hygiene assistance fund webpages

ATO advice on JobKeeper for Non-Government Schools
Below is advice from the Australian Taxation Office regarding the application of JobKeeper to non-government schools:

Key Messages

Quick Links

FAQ

Extension to the due date for bringing forward the July 2020 payment to midday Saturday 2 May 2020
On 29 April 2020, the Hon Dan Tehan MP, Minister for Education, announced an option for approved authorities to bring their July 2020 recurrent funding payment forward. For approved authorities to receive the July 2020 recurrent funding in two equal payments in late May and early June 2020, fully completed declarations must be received by the department by 12pm Saturday, 2 May 2020.

To assist with expediting payments, please check your declaration against our updated factsheet before submitting.

The Minister is also considering other financial support that may be available to help partially offset incidental hygiene expenses incurred by schools who have a plan for 50 per cent of students to return to classroom learning by 1 June 2020. Further information on these arrangements will be provided shortly.