This report assesses whether the NSW Department of Education (The department) is effectively supporting students with disability in NSW public schools. 

It finds the Department has effectively designed approaches and developed reforms under its 2019 Disability Strategy and related measures, but it still hasn’t resolved longstanding issues with funding, access to targeted supports, monitoring school practice and tracking outcomes for students with disability. This is despite the Department being made aware of these performance gaps for almost two decades across multiple audits, parliamentary inquiries and the recent national Disability Royal Commission.

Recommendations

• The Department should annually monitor the experiences and outcomes of students with disability.
• Continue to expand the use of data to support funding allocation in accordance with the needs of students with disability.
• Work with the Australian Government on reviews of the disability loading settings to ensure NSW public schools are adequately funded to support students with disability.
• Work with stakeholders to enhance guidance and practical support to public schools and families on reasonable adjustments for students with disability, including ways to resolve conflicting views in a timely manner.
• Improve the planning and delivery of targeted supports.