ACT non-government schools will receive a share in $57.9 million over four years to help them transition to the federal government's new education funding model.
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The capital's Catholic schools face a funding freeze and almost half of independent schools a cut under the legislation, which passed the senate early Friday morning.
Gonski 2.0 will scrap 27 deals with states, schools and systems in favour of a single needs-based model. Over-funded schools will reach the government's school resourcing standard within 10 years and under-funded schools within six.
The ACT's Catholic schools, which traditionally benefited from being funded to a socio-economic status score of 101 regardless of each school's actual ranking, have been particularly vocal in their opposition.
Current arrangements will continue for that sector for the next 12 months while the SES model is reviewed.
Catholic Education Office Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn director Ross Fox paid tribute to the lobbying efforts of the system's parents and principals as well as ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja in securing about $40 million extra for the sector.
He added it was "for others to judge" if it was a special deal following Education Minister Simon Birmingham's insistence none would be made.
The extra funding means fees will not rise in 2018 as predicted but Mr Fox said the fight would continue for a funding model that acknowledged the ACT's unique demographic make-up.
Association of Independent Schools of the ACT executive director Andrew Wrigley welcomed the new legislation, giving a nod to the extra funding for students with disability in Canberra's private schools.
He said the remaining almost $20 million in transitional funding was critical for the eight independent schools set to lose funding under Gonski 2.0.
"These are not elite schools," he said.
"These are schools that work incredibly hard to deliver educational excellence to their students, with the support of their communities. The negotiated package will help school communities transition to the new funding model."
Senator Seselja said on Friday he was confident the 12-month review of SES funding would lead to a "much better outcome" for Canberra's private schools.
"I value the contribution Catholic and independent schools make to our local education system and I am pleased that the minister has listened to the concerns of Canberra families," he said.
Daramalan College was hardest hit under the new funding model, facing an almost 30 per cent cut over 10 years. Radford College and Burgmann Anglican School followed with cuts of about 25 per cent.
ACT public schools will see about 6 per cent growth over the decade.
Fenner Labor MP Andrew Leigh his party would campaign against Gonski 2.0 until the next election. The Liberal government's model gives less funding than what was proposed under the former Labor government's original plan.
"No jurisdiction is hit harder than the ACT by these school funding cuts," Dr Leigh said.
"Canberra schools, as a whole, are the losers out of the Turnbull government's school funding package."
The new funding model will take effect from next year.
Northern Territory schools also received millions in transitional funding.
