AERA Annual Meeting, PhiladelphiaApril 3 – 7 2014

Committee Session 70.015

Enhancing Teacher Quality: Developing and Implementing Nationally Consistent Professional

Standards for Teachers in Australia

Presentation Organisation

1. Establishing national standards: Policy rationale

2. Validation of the Standards

3. Piloting Implementation of National Standards – Preparation, Process and Product

4. Policy and Praxis: The Assessor Training Program

AERA Annual Meeting, PhiladelphiaApril 3 – 7 2014

Enhancing Teacher Quality: Developing and Implementing Nationally Consistent

Professional Standards for Teachers in Australia

Establishing national standards: Policy rationale

Anne LoosManager – Research and Evaluation

Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

anne.loos@aitsl.edu.au

Australian Context

• 290,854 teachers• 9,435 schools• Three sectors• Eight jurisdictions• National reform

Policy Background and RationaleProfessional teaching standards have existed in most

Australian jurisdictions for many years.

2003: COAG - All Education Ministers – National Framework for Professional Standards for Teaching

2008: COAG – Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians

Explicit aim to “attract, develop, support and retain a high quality teaching and school leadership workforce in Australian schools.”

2009: National Standards Subgroup – Work on these National Standards began

2010: Establishment of AITSL – Remit to finalise the development of the National Standards

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)

AITSL’s mission is to promote excellence in teacher and school leader practice for the benefit of all young Australians.

AITSL works with the education community to:

• Define and maintain standards• Lead and influence improvement• Support and recognise quality

We don’t...

• Act as a regulator• Produce educational resources for use

by children• Employ teachers• Formulate the national curriculum

Education Partners

All key education stakeholders across Australia:

• Practitioners – teachers, school leaders, teacher educators, pre-service teachers

• Federal and state/territory governments• School system bodies and schools – Government, Catholic and Independent• Teacher regulatory authorities• Higher Education Institutes• Unions• Principal, professional and parent associations• National bodies – such as national curriculum authority (ACARA)• Research bodies and experts in the field

– National and international

Excellence in Teaching and School Leadership: Policy platforms

The development of the Standards is an integral part of ensuring quality learning and teaching in Australian schools.

Australian Professional Standards for Teachers February 2011

Define the work of teachers and make explicit the elements of high quality, effective teaching in 21st Century schools

A public statement of what constitutes teacher quality

Articulate what teachers are expected to know and do at four career stages

Provide a common understanding & language

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

Dual purpose: improvement career progression

Map progression: Graduate Proficient Highly Accomplished Lead

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

A Brief History

2014

• 2003 – National Standards Framework• 2008 – Melbourne Declaration• National Standards Subgroup

• Establishment of AITSL• Consultation• Validation and Endorsement

• Implementation commenced• Pilots – Phase 1• Illustrations of Practice• Website Development

• Self-Assessment Tool• Pilots – Phase 2

• Certification – Assessor Training• Evaluation of the Implementation of the

Standards (3 year evaluation)• Teacher Toolkit

• Classroom Practice Continuum - Observation

• Teacher Induction – in progress

2012

2011

2010

2013

Policy EndorsementAustralian Professional Standards for TeachersFeb 2011Accreditation of Initial Teacher Education ProgramsApr 2011Australian Professional Standard for PrincipalsJul 2011Nationally Consistent Teacher RegistrationOct 2011Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead TeachersApr 2012Teacher Performance and Development FrameworkAug 2012Charter for the Professional Learning of Teachers and School LeadersAug 2012

Implementation Support

Teacher Toolkit

The one place where AITSL’s online tools and resources for teachers can be found.

• bring the Standards to life

• situate teachers within the Standards

• a resource to support professional learning

• basis for discussion and reflection

Illustrations of Practice

View an IOP

• Teachers situate themselves in the Standards

• Formative tool used by teachers considering Certification

• Professional Learning Planner

Self Assessment Tool (SAT)

A professional learning planner to support teacher’s meet performance and development goals based on the Standards and aligned to school goals

Professional Learning

Performance and Development Framework

Nationally Consistent Registration of Teachers

Meeting the Standards and criteria for full registration

Certification Evidence

Provides detailed examples

Australian Professional Standard for Principals

Coming soon

Leadership Development Continuum

Teacher Feature Great Teaching Ideas

Student Voice

Three places for teachers to join education conversations and share ideas

Classroom Practice Continuum:Observation Framework

• Based on the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers

• An important tool for ensuring an effective performance and development culture within schools

Teacher Standards App

• The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers available on mobiles and tablets

• A resource to collect and annotate evidence aligned to the Standards

Coming soon

The Standards

From the profession, for the profession

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