Tasmanian Government schools have today received further details about the $3.5 million School Transition Fund aimed at encouraging them to explore new ways of delivering education.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Nick McKim, said today an information publication had been distributed to all school principals, who would now share the publication with their school communities.

"The Fund provides opportunities that can empower school communities to make decisions that will improve the delivery of educational services in their local area," Mr McKim said.

"School communities can choose to access the fund on a voluntary basis, if they believe it is in the best interests of their students and educational outcomes.

"The School Viability Reference Group Report recommended innovation in education provision to ensure our education system is able to meet student learning needs into the future and that local communities are well placed to make decisions that impact on them.

"The School Transition Fund will provide $3.5 million over the next two financial years to support schools that wish to transition to a new way of delivering education."

Mr McKim said that the fund presented an exciting opportunity for schools and their communities to be at the centre of decision-making with the support of the Department of Education and financial assistance from the State Government.

"School communities may choose to work with their school principal to decide what future they may want for their school," he said.

Mr McKim said that during 2012, schools would be able to submit an Expression of Interest to be considered for accessing the fund.

Expressions of interest will be assessed by a selection panel of School Association representatives and Departmental personnel, and a decision made to further progress discussions with school communities.

"This is a unique opportunity to shape how schools in local communities operate into the future and I look forward to working with school communities to ensure our education system continues to deliver the best possible learning outcomes for our students," Mr McKim said.

Expressions of Interestâ€"Round 1 close on 16 November 2012.

The publication is available at  http://www.education.tas.gov.au/dept/strategies/schooltransitionfundbrochure.pdf.