Equity Index

From January 2023 the Ministry of Education is removing the school decile system as a means of distributing funding. Equity funding will instead be based on the Equity Index. The Equity Index(external link) estimates the extent to which young people face socio-economic barriers to achieving in education.

The table below details advice provided and documents that relate to this work.

The Equity Index has been under development for several years. Over that time, multiple changes have been made to its methodology, and possible approaches to using the Index to allocate resourcing. As a result, much of the analysis in the following papers is, while accurate at the time of writing, not necessarily reflective of the Equity Index and funding approach used at the time of implementation in 2022. For further information on the Equity Index and how it is being used, please visit https://www.education.govt.nz/our-work/changes-in-education/equity-index/

Date of paper
Title of paper
METIS/Cabinet ref
12 Aug 2022 Updating donations scheme eligibility under the equity index [PDF, 775 KB] 1293186
6 May 2022 Finalising the Equity Index funding approach [PDF, 5.8 MB] 1286888
6 May 2022 Equity Index transition approach and other implementation matters [PDF, 4.6 MB] 1276626
7 Oct 2021 Differences between school decile and equity index [PDF, 2.3 MB] 1270424
5 Aug 2021 Allocation of the Special Education Grant [PDF, 912 KB] 1266555
23 Jul 2021 Further analysis on equity index funding decisions [PDF, 3.2 MB] 1249950
28 Jun 2021 The impact of shifting to the Equity Index on eligibility for donations scheme [PDF, 755 KB] 1261518
7 Apr 2021 Cabinet paper: School Donations Scheme: Report Back on Uptake 2020 and 2021 [PDF, 903 KB] SWC-21-MIN-0040
4 Mar 2021 Report back on the uptake of the School Donations Scheme for 2020 and 2021 [PDF, 698 KB] 1251782
10 Dec 2020 Equity index funding decisions for Budget 2021 [PDF, 4.1 MB] 1245184
5 Jun 2020 Budget 2020– implementing the Equity Index and other initiatives to support learners facing additional barriers. [PDF, 1 MB] 1223257
29 Nov 2019 Applying the Equity Index to the Special Education Grant and Careers Information Grant [PDF, 6.3 MB] 1212353
25 Sep 2019 Proposed Approach to Equity Resourcing [PDF, 5.2 MB] 1200266
19 Sep 2019 Release of Equity Index Technical Report and He Whakaaro [PDF, 2.2 MB] 1205440
16 Sep 2019 Replacing Education Deciles with the Equity Index [PDF, 1.3 MB] CAB-19-MIN-0472
11 Sep 2019 Regional Engagement on the Equity Index [PDF, 12 MB] 1202233
6 Sep 2019 Technical refinements to the Equity Index [PDF, 3.8 MB] 1204646
23 Aug 2019 Key points on technical improvements to the Equity Index [PDF, 3.6 MB] 1203462
1 Aug 2019 Presenting the Equity Index – options for mitigating stigma [PDF, 6.5 MB] 1193688
5 Jul 2019 Policy approvals for a Cabinet paper on replacing school deciles with the Equity Index [PDF, 1.4 MB] 1194848
7 May 2019 Strategy session - Equity Index [PDF, 7.1 MB] 1188652
4 Apr 2019 Decision-making timelines and additional information for shifting to the Equity Index [PDF, 4 MB] 1183599
27 Mar 2019 Implementing the isolation index changes [PDF, 6.3 MB] 1175977
31 Jan 2019 Implementing the equity index [PDF, 5.5 MB] 1172683
14 Dec 2018 Updating and improving the isolation index [PDF, 4 MB] 1171448
11 Dec 2018 Equity Index Explanation [PDF, 3.2 MB] 1171041
10 Dec 2018 Additional Information on Impacts of Phasing in the Equity Index [PDF, 3.9 MB] 1169230
8 Nov 2018 Options for phasing out or recalculating deciles [PDF, 2.3 MB] 1164813
October 2018 Removing the Decile Label [PDF, 1.6 MB] N/A [PDF, 1.6 MB]
4 May 2018 Cabinet paper: Education Funding Review: Proposed New Direction [PDF, 934 KB] CAB-18-MIN-0208
4 May 2018 Briefing Note: Funding Review - Proposed New Direction [PDF, 518 KB] 1123993
11 April 2018 Strategy Session: Funding review and insights on Equity and Disadvantage [PDF, 368 KB] 1118528

Some related work had previously been undertaken as part of the Education Funding System Review. That review has now ended as a standalone project. Information on ongoing related work is available here: Education Funding System Review

Earlier papers related to the Education Funding System Review are available at the following two links:

Education Funding System Review - background documents

Education Funding System Review - engagement reports and discussion papers

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