Another 100 schools in multi-million dollar behaviour program

15/2/05
Education and Training Minister Alan Carpenter today announced the additional 100 public schools that will join the Gallop Government's $64.5million Behaviour Management and Discipline (BMD) strategy.
The announcement brings to 275 the total number of schools directly involved in the program.
Mr Carpenter said the successful State Government behaviour strategy, which had been operating in 44 targeted secondary schools since 2002, was extended in 2004-05 with a $36.5million funding boost over four years.
"The BMD program will now be running across 275 schools, bringing the State Government's commitment to behaviour and discipline programs in schools to $64.5million over four years," he said.
The Minister said the 100 schools, ranging from Broome to Albany, were among the first to be offered the important funding for primary school students.
BMD had made a significant impact on student behaviour in public schools, with suspension and exclusion rates continuing to decline.
"This has been one of the Gallop Government's most successful education policies," Mr Carpenter said.
"The BMD program has contributed to a three-year trend which has seen ongoing reductions in the rate of suspension, the number of students suspended, the total days of suspension and a decrease in the number of suspension notices issued.
"We have seen a 34.5 per cent reduction in the number of students suspended since the all-time high of more than 12,000 students recorded in 1997, and a 19 per cent reduction in suspension notices since 2001.
"Some participating schools have reported increases in student academic performance and school morale.
"Teachers have highly valued the classroom management training they have received which they say enables them to spend more time teaching and less time on student discipline issues."
The Minister said schools involved in the strategy were using the funding to develop local solutions to local issues.
Schools had implemented a range of initiatives such as the employment of additional staff, programs to specifically target truancy and provision of support to students disengaged from their education.
"As each school has different challenges in managing student behaviour, the BMD strategy allows schools to decide how they can best use their resources," Mr Carpenter said.
The Minister said the multi-million dollar investment in behaviour management was the result of the Gallop Government's responsible economic management and four consecutive balanced Budgets.
"The previous Liberal Government had five deficits in eight years, running down the State," he said.
"In contrast, the Gallop Government's strong financial performance has enabled us to increase the Education and Training budget by more than $557million per annum, an increase of more than 30 per cent over the last four years."
A list of schools is attached.
Minister's office: 9213 6800

2005 NEW BM&D SCHOOLS