Schools, unis in the budget spotlight

EDUCATION - WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE BUDGET

* Needs-based funding to deliver an extra $23.5 billion to schools over the decade

* Gonski 2.0 school reform agreement yet to be negotiated with states, but expected to start in 2019

* New child care and early learning system starts July 2

* $271 million Community Child Care Fund for regional and disadvantaged communities

* One-year extension of preschool into 2019 at cost of $440 million

* Extra funding for school chaplains expected

* University funding frozen

* New minimum repayment income of $45 000 for the compulsory repayment of Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debts

* New repayment thresholds for HELP, alignment of the indexation of the repayment thresholds to the Consumer Price Index and the introduction of a new lifetime limit on how much students can borrow under HELP to cover their tuition fees