8. Students at Risk—FundingJOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister of EducationStudents at Risk—Funding8. JOANNE HAYES (National) to the Minister of Education: What recent announcements has she made about funding to support students at risk of educational under-achievement?Hon HEKIA PARATA (Minister of Education): This morning I announced that almost every State and State integrated school and kura will receive a share of an extra $12.3 million to support students most at risk of underachieving. This extra funding represents a 1 percent increase to the operations grant funding taking it to a total of $1.35 billion for 2017 which demonstrates that despite what the unions and the Opposition have been saying there is no funding freeze for education. The increased money is being targeted for those students most at risk of underachievement. These are students from families on long-term welfare. We have identified around 133000 students who qualify under these criteria. Schools were notified yesterday of the exact amount they will be receiving in the targeted funding.Joanne Hayes: How will this additional funding support the investment this Government is already making in education?Hon HEKIA PARATA: This Government has a clear track record of increasing spending on education. Investment in education is up by 35 percent since 2008 and the early childhood education budget has more than doubled. With that increased funding comes the responsibility to ensure that the money is being spent in the best possible way for all our children and young people to achieve. Our social investment approach is part of that: identifying and investing early in those who are most at risk of not being successful in education. The education sector has been asking for more funding for students at greatest risk which is exactly what we are doing with the targeted funding. This extra funding is a clear example of how our funding system could be improved to get more support to those students who need it the most.Tracey Martin: Can the Minister explain why her Government has made a funding decision based on adult-focused markets such as the educational achievement of the mother rather than expanding screening tools and centrally collected school entry data to equity fund children on their identified actual needs including those children who are gifted and talented?Hon HEKIA PARATA: We have not done that. Tracey Martin: How will her funding announcement assist those students whose families do not match her four external predictive markers but still require additional assistance to achieve their academic best such as those with dyslexia or dyspraxia or those who are on the autism spectrum?Hon HEKIA PARATA: In Budget 2016 I announced that rather than there being a universal 1 percent increase across all schools we would use one factor to target. That factor is children who have spent 75 percent of the first 5 years of their life or 75 percent of the most recent 5 years of their life in long-term-benefit-dependent households. That is because the evidence is emphatic that that can lead to underachievement. In answer to the second question—Tracey Martin: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. My question was quite specific around—Mr SPEAKER: Order! The question was far from specific. I am in some difficulty because actually it was so long and lengthy that I could not understand it. Can I invite the member to ask the question again? It would be easier if it was more concise but the member has the opportunity.Tracey Martin: Kia ora Mr Speaker. How will her funding announcement assist those students whose families do not match her four external predictive markers but still require assistance such as dyslexics dyspraxics and those on the autism spectrum?Hon HEKIA PARATA: As I answered in the primary question the particular funded targeting amount that is to go to schools next year is but one part of $1.35 billion that will be shared out between schools in 2017. In addition in Budget 2016 we announced $43 million for special education including a further 550000 hours for teacher-aide support.Chris Hipkins: Why does the increase in funding for schools amount to just under 1 percent when inflation is expected to be 1.5 percent over that period meaning schools are facing a funding cut in real terms?Hon HEKIA PARATA: There is no funding cut. In the period from 2010 to 2015 CPI inflation amounted cumulatively to about 9.6 percent. Over that time this Government has invested in operational grants at a rate of 15 percent. Chris Hipkins: I raise a point of order Mr Speaker. I think the Minister might have misunderstood the question. I was not asking about the historical funding profile but the future funding profile.Mr SPEAKER: No. I listened to the question. I may well have misunderstood it as well but the way I heard the question from the member it has certainly been addressed by the Minister.