Schools/Kura with an EQI below 431 and Schools/Kura Not Opting In to the Donations Scheme

Details about the government’s donation scheme, and general rules around donations, parent obligations and other types of payments.

Level of compliance	Main audience	Other
Required	Boards Principals and Tumuaki	Parents, Caregivers and Whānau Administrators

Level of compliance

Main audience

Other

Required

Boards
Principals and Tumuaki

Parents, Caregivers and Whānau
Administrators

Schools/kura with an EQI below 431 are not eligible to opt-in to the donation scheme. There are still however rules and regulations they must follow in regard to donations and note that state schools can never charge domestic students for enrolment or attendance or for the delivery of the curriculum. It is a school’s responsibility to ensure the voluntary nature of donations is clear to their parent community.

Key information

From January 2023 deciles will be phased out and the Donations scheme eligibility will be based on the Equity Index (EQI). From January 2023, state and state-integrated schools with an EQI of 432 or above will be able to choose to receive a payment of $154.13 per student, per year if they agree not to ask parents and caregivers for donations, except for overnight camps.

What is the ‘donation scheme’?

The Government will pay your school or kura with an EQI of 432 or above $154.13 per student per year if:

the Board agrees to opt-in to the scheme AND
the Board does not ask parents/caregivers for any donations (gifts/koha), except for overnight school camps.

The school donations scheme does not change the long-standing entitlement of students to free education.

About the scheme

This initiative is designed to alleviate pressure and expectation from families to pay donations even though they are voluntary.

Parents, caregivers, family or whānau can ask to attend the Board meeting where you will discuss whether to opt-in or not. Schools with an EQI of 432 or above are encouraged to consult with their school communities and reflect their views when making a decision.

Scheme eligibility

The Equity Index (EQI) provides an indicator of which schools face greater socio-economic barriers to student achievement. We use the EQI to target funding to state and state-integrated schools, to help them overcome any socio-economic barriers to learning that students might face.

What happens if your school does not join

Your school/kura will not receive additional funding
Your school/kura can still ask parents to make donations
The board may seek donations toward the cost of the core learning programme (curriculum).

You can also email any questions to school.donations@education.govt.nz

Rules that apply at all times

Section 33 of the Education and Training Act 2020(external link) states that every person who is not an international student is entitled to free enrolment and free education at any State school during the period beginning on the person’s fifth birthday and ending on 1 January after the person’s 19th birthday. This means that schools cannot charge domestic students a fee for enrolment or attendance, or for the delivery of the curriculum.

This means that state schools cannot charge domestic students a fee for enrolment or attendance, or for the delivery of the curriculum.

Schools and kura can ask parents to:

pay for goods they provide that are optional (e.g. pens, lunches).

Parent, caregiver and family/whānau obligations

Donations are always voluntary, no matter who asks for them.

Parents, caregivers and family/whānau never have to make a donation to your school or kura. They are free to give any size donation any time if they choose. GST is not payable on the donation and they can claim a tax credit.

Goods and services

Parents, caregivers and family/whānau can choose to purchase goods and services from your school or kura or seek supplies elsewhere. If they agree to buy from your school/kura they are responsible to pay.

Optional activities

There are no restrictions on charging fees for extracurricular, weekend or optional activities. If parents choose to send their child to these activities, it is with the understanding that these feeds are to be paid for. It is the school’s responsibility to ensure that this is clearly communicated.

Payment types

The three types of payments include donations, purchases of goods and services, and attendance dues.

Section 33 of the Education and Training Act 2020(external link) states that every person who is not an international student is entitled to free enrolment and free education at any state school during the period beginning on the person’s fifth birthday and ending on 1 January after the person’s 19th birthday. This means that state schools cannot charge domestic students a fee for enrolment or attendance, or for the delivery of the curriculum.

Payment type	Requirement	Description
Donations	Voluntary	Parents can pay them in part, in full or not at all They can be for general purposes, or for a specific purpose Anyone can choose to make a donation to a school or kura at any time GST is not payable, donation tax credits can be claimed Schools and kura with an EQI of 432 or higher who opt-in to the donations scheme will receive $154.13 per student payment for that year in exchange for not asking for donations- with the exception of donations for school camps Schools and kura with an EQI of 431 and below and those who chose not to opt-in can still ask for donations, but payment cannot be compelled or enforced.
Purchases of goods and services	Voluntary	Schools and kura can ask parents and whānau to pay for goods and services they provide that are optional (e.g. pens and lunches) It is up to parents/whānau to decide whether to buy them from the school/kura or somewhere else If a purchase is agreed, payment can be enforced GST is chargeable and a tax credit cannot be claimed.
Attendance dues	Compulsory for state-integrated schools and kura	Payment can be enforced and GST is payable, a tax credit cannot be claimed State-integrated schools and kura cannot increase attendance dues without the approval of the Minister of Education.