Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan will have his work cut out for him when he meets with his NSW counterpart later this week.
NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes has been a vocal opponent of the Morrison government's recently announced Catholic school funding deal, saying it's unfair to other schools.
The federal government will provide Catholic and independent schools with $3.2 billion over 10 years to ease the transition to a new school funding model, and a further $1.2 billion to "address specific challenges" in those schools.
Mr Tehan is confident the states and territories will be on board with the funding deal and expects to smooth over issues with Mr Stokes by pointing to record funding for NSW state schools.
"I'm sure we'll be able to work all that through and make sure we get an outcome which is all about the kids in NSW," he told the ABC on Sunday.
However, Mr Stokes says his position has not changed, calling for a solution that maximises funding for students in Catholic, independent and public schools.
"In NSW, we have held firm with the Gonski principles of needs-based, sector-blind funding - meaning funding based on the needs of each student, regardless of where they live or what school they attend," he said.
"These are principles that must be at the centre of any new school funding deal."
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