The Victorian government has hailed the education reforms deal as a great outcome for Victoria, but has been lashed for scrapping a school allowance for the state's most disadvantaged families to help pay for it.
Premier Denis Napthine said the state was in a "win-win" position with the federal coalition agreeing to match federal funding on the education reforms.
"Now we've got a deal from both sides of federal politics which guarantees the additional funding we've got," he told ABC radio on Monday.
"This is a `win win' for Victoria.
"This is a great result for Victorian schools."
Victoria is the latest state to sign on to the federal Better Schools plan, in a deal that will deliver an extra $12.2 billion to its public schools over the next six years.
But Victorian Opposition Leader Daniel Andrews says the deal has come at the expense of the education maintenance allowance, which helps the state's lowest-income families with school expenses.
"Better schools and Gonski, that's great news," Mr Andrews told reporters.
"(But) there's nothing better about taking money out of the hands of low-income parents that ought to go towards school books and uniforms and school shoes.
"This is a modest payment and it speaks volumes for the mean spiritedness of this premier that he would cut away such a critical payment.
"Who knows what other details are buried in the state government's response to a Better Schools deal?"
Dr Napthine hailed the deal as a great outcome for Victoria, saying it targeted the schools and families in most need.
"We're very proud of the deal we've done," he told reporters.
"Families in the greatest need will be the greatest beneficiaries of this funding deal, because the target for this additional $12.2 billion of funding is for schools in the most needy areas, schools that will deliver the best outcome for students, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds."
