Ministry of Education - Donations Scheme: Opting IN for 2026

What is the Donation Scheme? (linked from MOE website)

Who is eligible

State and state-integrated schools and kura with an equity index (EQI) of 432 or higher can choose to join the scheme. To join, schools and kura must agree not to ask parents and caregivers for donations (except for overnight camps).

The scheme is designed to ease the pressure and expectations put on households by donation payments.

You can find the EQI for a school or kura on Education Counts.

Schooling equity index – Education Counts

Each year there will be a small number of schools and kura that will become newly eligible to opt-in to the scheme because the following years' EQI is 432 or higher.

If the EQI of a school receiving this funding falls below 432, the board may continue to opt in to the scheme. If the board does not continue to opt in to the scheme annually, it won't be eligible to opt back in unless the school's EQI rises above 432.

The scheme applies to all year levels in a school or kura. The board can't opt in for some year levels only.