Parent Initiatives in Education funding for school and preschool communities
Parent Initiatives in Education (PIE) funding supports parent-led initiatives at their child’s government school or preschool that deliver outcomes in line with funding criteria.
Criteria
To be eligible to receive up to $3000 for an approved application the initiative must demonstrate how it will deliver one or more of the following criteria:
- encourage participation of parents and caregivers who are not well represented in their school and preschool decision making
- improve parent and caregiver understanding of what their children are learning
- help parents and caregivers support their child’s education, both at home, and through positive relationships with educators.
Key dates
Applications for the 2019 round are closed. Details of 2020 funding will be released in the first half of 2019.
Eligibility for PIE funding
Applications must:
- be initiated by individual parents, parent or caregiver groups, such as governing councils and parent clubs
- be endorsed by the department preschool or school leader
- demonstrate how the initiative will deliver one or more of the criteria during and beyond the initiative
- outline how outcomes of the initiative will be sustained to benefit current and future participants/parents
- include a detailed budget
- be in line with government and department policies and all relevant legislation.
More than one application per preschool or school can be submitted.
Only government preschools and schools are eligible to apply.
What can be funded
Funding aims to support high quality school-family partnerships and parent engagement in children’s learning. This includes parent involvement in school decision making, activities at the school and education in the home.
Ideally you will seek quotes (where relevant) to base your application budget on. You can include a range of reasonable costs that may be incurred in the delivery of your initiative. Be clear in your planning and the application how each expense will support delivery of the criteria.
Eligible costs may include:
Printing and photocopying | Including flyers or pamphlets and information packs for parents. Budget at 10c per copy which includes paper and ink. |
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Refreshments | For example, morning or afternoon tea for parent and caregiver participants. You must include the number and cost per head (maximum $3.50 per head, per break). |
Crèche/OSHC | Include the number and age of children, the number of workers and the current hourly rate. |
Transport for parents and caregivers | Bus or taxi. Include the name of the operator, cost of each journey, numbers of passengers, names of the passengers, and the distance. |
Facilitator/presenter/ provider fees | Include the name of the facilitator/presenter/provider, their organisation, the session name, goods or services to be provided and cost per session. Note that education department employees cannot be paid. |
Interpreter’s fees | List the language/s, interpreter’s name, organisation name and cost per hour. |
Translation fees | List the language/s, translator’s name, the organisation name and cost per word or page. |
Website | Costs associated with placing resources for parents on site websites |
What will not be funded
Goods and services that:
- meet criteria for other department funding options
- are funded through the site Resource Entitlement Statement
- form usual operational expenses of the preschool or school (this can include sports, kitchen, catering, gardening or horticulture equipment, televisions, DVD players, computers, CD players, curriculum resources, furniture, books, toys, games).
The following will also not be funded:
- purchase of commercially developed and available parenting courses or parenting literature, books, magazines, DVDs, CDs for parent loan, apps or resource libraries
- expenses incurred for an award ceremony or school celebration
- wages, teacher TRT or honorariums to any education department employees (excluding OSHC), payments to parents and caregivers
- flights, accommodation and gifts for guest speakers
- encouragement awards
- equipment for parents, such as pedometers, trailers for camping gear and clothing
- training, information and resources available through the department including governing council or first aid training
- operational and daily business expenses, such as shopping trips and contingency costs
- venue hire
- criminal history screening checks for volunteers.
Past initiatives
Past initiatives that were funded were delivered in a range of ways to achieve the funding criteria. Examples of these approaches include:
- seminars, workshops and information sessions
- consultations, surveys and interviews
- workshops to develop artworks, including murals and mosaics community gardens
- hands-on activities, including cooking, festivals, events
- skill development sessions for parents understanding what children are learning and the skills to support learning
- bespoke resources, such as websites, fact sheets, videos and school developed booklets.
Assessment
The Parent Initiatives in Education (PIE) advisory committee will assess applications from preschools and schools against the criteria and eligibility requirements.
Related information
On this site
Family and community involvement in education
Contact
Department for Education
Engagement and Wellbeing
Phone 8226 2167
Email: Education.ParentEngagement@sa.gov.au
