The National and State Context

Independent Schools Queensland

May 2009

National context

• New Federalism

• Implications for education

COAG/MCEETYA

• COAG a major driver of education reform

• Significant issue for non-state sectors

• MCEETYA role diminished

• Education agenda linked to productivity agenda

The Education Revolution

Some examples:• Commonwealth-State financial relations• Digital Education Revolution• Trade Training Centres• Literacy and Numeracy Pilot Projects• Australian Curriculum, Assessment and

Reporting Authority • The Melbourne Declaration • Early Childhood Education and Child Care• Building the Education Revolution (BER)

National Partnerships

• Low SES Communities   $231 million over seven years (2008/09 to 2012/13) – independent sector $5.52 million (nine schools)

• Literacy and Numeracy   $41.5 million over two years (2008/09 to 2009/10) plus possible reward payments of $97 million in 2010 to 2012 – independent sector $2.3 million of facilitation funding

• Teacher Quality    $18 million over four years (2008/09 to 2011/12) plus possible reward payments of $68 million in 2010 to 2012) – independent sector $2.77 million of facilitation funding

National Partnership to Improve Year 12

or Equivalent Attainment

• The Commonwealth will provide up to an additional $100 million over six years, including up to $50 million in 2013‑14, to the States for a National Partnership on Youth Attainment and Transitions.

National Partnerships (cont’d)

• NPs require co-investment by States/Territories

• Reform based

The State Context

• Minister – the Hon Geoff Wilson MP

• Parliamentary Secretary – Caroline Male

• Acting Director-General – Julie Grantham

• Arts has moved to Premiers

• Significant Departmental re-organisation

• QSA

QCAR ReportSenior Project Officer QCAR

Schools are focusing on:– Planning with Essential Learnings – Consistency of teacher judgment activities– Developing quality assessment practices– Establishing intra and inter-school moderation

practices

QLD 1-9 QSA Curriculum, Assessment, and Reporting

• Essential Learnings Knowledge and Understanding, Ways of working and Assessable elements

• Assessment Bank• QCATS Queensland Comparable

Assessment tasks– Centrally-devised assessment – School-devised tasks

2009

• QCATs 4,6 completed. Year 9 in August….ISQ sponsored moderation events underway

• ISQ to survey schools regarding QCAT take up• QCEC are progressing but with an emphasis on

standards (all dioceses required every school to do at least one QCAT)

• Education Queensland (strike action referred to constant curriculum change)

Big issues for independent schools

• QCATs mandated in 2010?

• School devised an option?

• More opportunities for moderation?

• Alignment with the national picture?

A Shared ChallengeImproving Literacy, Numeracy and Science Learning in Queensland Primary Schools

Feedback

• Four week period for consultation on the recommendations – Closes May 29, 2009

• Government response will follow

• Please provide any feedback to jwills@aisq.qld.edu.au

Recommendations:

That all aspiring primary teachers be required to demonstrate through test performances that they must meet threshold levels of knowledge about the teaching of literacy, numeracy and science and have sound levels of content knowledge in these areas.

Recommendations (cont’d)

• That standard science tests be introduced at Years 4, 5, 8 and 10 for school use in identifying students who are not meeting year-level expectations and monitoring student progress over time