Under the Commonwealth Government Targeted Programs assistance to independent schools is provided to improve the educational outcomes and opportunities for identified students. The Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AISNSW) has responsibility for administering the Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Program (LNSLN Program) for independent schools in NSW.
Funding under the LNSLN Program – Literacy and Numeracy is not intended to be the only support for educationally disadvantaged students. LNSLN funding is only one source of funding available to non-government schools to meet the needs of educationally disadvantaged students.
Funding is targeted at the most educationally disadvantaged school students, including special school students, from Kindergarten (or equivalent) to Year 12 who may face barriers to effective participation at school and who:
- are not achieving or are at risk of not achieving a national minimal standard of literacy and/or numeracy or other appropriate standard of achievement; and/or
- require additional assistance to reach an appropriate standard of achievement.
Educational disadvantage may be associated with a range of factors such as a disability or learning difficulty, a language background other than English, Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander background, low-socio-economic background or geographical isolation.