In accordance with the Education (general Provisions) Act 2006, the cost of providing instruction, administration and facilities for the education of students enrolled at sate schools who are Australian citizens or permanent residents, or children of Australia citizens or permanent residents, is met by the State.
Parents/carers are directly responsible for providing textbooks and other personal resources for their children while attending school. in recognition that these costs can be high, the school operates a Student Resource Scheme (the scheme) that enables a parent/carer to enter into an agreement with the school to provides, for a specified annual participation fee, the temporary use by the student of prescribed textbooks and/or other resources, and/or other purchase of consumables and materials for the student.
Student Resource Scheme is separate to and distinct from a request for a voluntary financial contribution.
The scheme is intended to provide the parent/carer with a cost effective alternative to purchasing the prescribed textbooks and/or other resources elsewhere, through reduced prices gained from the school's bulk purchasing practices.
The scheme also ensures that students have consistent personal resources for their education, and saves the parent/carer time and money in sourcing the prescribed materials elsewhere.
The scheme is not used to raise funds for other purposes, and revenue collected through the scheme is applied only to the operation of the scheme.
Participation in the scheme is voluntary, and there is no obligation on a parent to participate in the scheme. A parent's decision to participate or not is based on consideration of the value afforded to them by the scheme.
A parent/carer who does not wish to participate in the textbook and resource scheme shall inform the school by completing the Participation Agreement Form and returning it to the Administration office. Arrangements will be made for the parent/carer of students in Years 7 to 12 or of secondary education age to be paid the value of the Textbook and Resource Allowance for each of their eligible children.
A parent/carer who chooses not to participate in the scheme is responsible for providing the student with all items that would otherwise be provided to the student by the scheme as detailed on the Year Level Requirements List and/or Subject Requirements List, to enable the student to engage with the curriculum.
The operation of the Student Resource Scheme is discussed annually at a meeting of the Parents and Citizen's Association. Parents/carers are extended an invitation to attend this meeting and provided the opportunity to express their opinions. A vote is taken at this meeting endorsing the operation of the scheme.
The Queensland Government provides financial assistance to parents/carers of students in Years 7 to 12 or of secondary education age, attending State and approved non-State schools, to offset the costs of textbooks and other resources. Assistance is provided in the form of a Textbook ad Resource Allowance which is paid once a calendar year through the school. Parents/carers have the option to receive the allowance directly from the school or as an offset of fees associated with participation in the school's Student Resource Scheme.
All textbooks and resources provided for temporary use by the scheme remain the property of the scheme and shall be returned at the end of the education program or school year or when the student leaves the school, whichever is the earlier. Where an item is not returned, the parent/carer will be responsible for payment to the scheme of the replacement cost of the item. Failure to make payment may result in debt recovery action being undertaken including, where warranted, referral to an external debt collection agency. This may result in extra costs being incurred by the parent/carer.
Textbooks and other resources provided for temporary student use by the scheme shall be kept in good condition by the student. The school Administration Office shall be notified immediately of the loss or negligent damage to any issued item. Where an issued item is lost or negligently damaged, parents/carers will be responsible for payment to the scheme of the replacement cost of the item. Failure to make payment may result in debt recovery action being undertaken including, where warranted, referral to an external debt collection agency. This may result in extra costs being incurred by the parent/carer.
The parent/carer is responsible for supplying the student with any additional student materials that are not provided by the Student Resource Scheme, as indicated on the Year Level Requirements List and/or Subject Requirements List or otherwise advised by the school.
If a student enters the scheme after the first week of school, a pro-rata participation fee will apply, calculated on a 40-week school year basis.
If a student, having paid a participation fee, leaves the school through the year, a pro-rata refund will be made to the parent/carer, calculated on the cost consumed materials and the replacement cost of the scheme items that are lost negligently damaged or not returned, plus the pro-rata Textbook and Resource Allowance calculated on a 40-week school year basis.
As the scheme operates for the benefit of parents/carers and is funded solely from participation fees, resources provided by the scheme will not be issued to students whose parents/carers choose not to participate in the scheme.