STAR update

The Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) grants additional funding to schools to access a wide range of courses to provide greater opportunities for students whose needs cannot be met by the school. The resource allows schools to provide flexible and student centered learning by providing or purchasing tertiary-type courses and learning experiences from accredited providers.

In September 2008 government announced changes to STAR including additional funding to enable more students to participate in STAR funded tertiary courses.

Increase in STAR funding

There has been a substantial increase in the STAR funding formula effective for the 2009 school year. The additional funding is intended to enable schools to offer even more opportunity for students to access tertiary-type courses and learning experiences while remaining enrolled in school.

Revised rates are as follows: the first 40 units funded at $668.53 per unit and subsequent units funded at $117.49 per unit. The increase paid to schools was effective from the January 2009 operational payment with details shown in the accompanying operations grant entitlement notice.

The revised funding formula can be found in the Funding, Staffing and Allowances Handbook, (Chapter 1).

STAR Excluded List (SEL)

Refinements have been made to the SEL to enable schools to purchase a greater range of possible learning. These changes are effective for the 2009 school year and a revised SEL is available from the ministry website.

Schools will now be able to purchase learning which comes within the domains below using STAR funding:

• The Self management; Social and Cooperative Skills; and Work and Study Skills domains within the Core Generic sub field
• The Interpersonal Communications and Introductory Communication Skills domains within the Communications Skills subfield

This is because these domains within the Core Generic and Humanities fields of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) have been removed from the SEL.