Unions, religious school representatives and parents will tell senators how the Turnbull government's plan for school funding will affect them during an inquiry hearing.
But the Senate committee isn't expected to hear from state and territory education departments on Friday - despite them running about seven in 10 of the nation's schools.
The government's plan will put an extra $18.6 billion into schools over the next decade and move commonwealth funding to a consistent level for all non-government or public schools.
It needs to win 10 extra Senate votes to pass legislation setting up the plan.
Greens education spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young said more money was needed and a tighter time frame than 10 years for its delivery.
She's asked education department officials to look at the cost of moving all public schools to the federal government's planned 20 per cent of the per-student standard within five years instead.
Nick Xenophon, who leads a team of three senators, said a time frame of eight years would be preferable.
The inquiry hearing in Melbourne will hear from religious school representatives from Jewish, Christian, Lutheran and Adventist sectors on Friday.
It will also hear from a group of parental organisations from both private and public sectors, and the Australian Education Union which represents public school teachers.
In the inquiry's second hearing, on Monday, it is expected to hear from the independent and Catholic sectors, school principals and the federal education department.
Labor education spokeswoman Tanya Plibersek was outraged the state and territory governments appeared to have been banned from giving evidence.
"How can you have an inquiry into schools funding without speaking to state and territory governments that run around 70 per cent of schools?" she told AAP.
Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and the Northern Territory made written submissions to the inquiry.
