Assurance sought on PASP’s future

By Gary Zadkovich

Federation has written to Education Minister Andrew Refshauge requesting that the NSW Government honour its policy commitments to equity programs, and in particular, to ensure the future of the Priority Action Schools Program (PASP).

An evaluation of the PASP conducted by Stephen Kemmis and Susan Groundwater-Smith at the end of 2003 has not been published and provided to the parties involved in the program.

This delay occurs in the context of the following NSW Government policy statement: "Subject to evaluation, the pilot Priority Action Schools Program will be retained. It is being trialled in 74 schools this year. Schools on the program have been allocated between $100,000 and $400,000 for specific programs designed to boost educational outcomes for disadvantaged communities." (Public Education -- Building on its strong foundations, ALP 2003)

Federation is aware of the outstanding results being achieved as a direct result of this unique program.

The NSW Government and the Department of Education and Training would be similarly aware of the Federation's firm commitment to campaigning for the continuation and expansion of the PASP, within the three-tiered approach to equity programs that was confirmed in the same NSW Government policy.

The three tiers comprise the Priority Schools Funding Program, the Priority Action Schools Program and the Priority Schools Help Program. The latter program was initiated to provide further assistance to a small number of low socio-economic status schools in need of significant additional support from the DET.

This policy also states: "The Priority Schools Funding Program will be retained and enhanced. This year 542 schools, with a high proportion of students from lower socio-economic areas, are being helped. This program provides additional support to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for students and increase their participation in schooling. During our next term, the program will be enhanced, in accordance with the recommendations made by Professor Tony Vinson in his Inquiry into the Provision of Public Education in NSW. Specifically, this will include new resources for Funding Program schools and induction materials for teachers appointed to these schools."

It is clear, therefore, that the continuation of the PASP requires additional funding beyond that already required for the Priority Schools Funding Program (PSFP) to be "retained and enhanced".

The delivery of equity programs in this three-tiered approach distinguishes NSW public education as a world leader in this field. Federation, therefore, has a clear expectation that the NSW Government will honour its election commitments by allocating sufficient "new resources" to continue the outstanding achievements of equity programs in our public schools.

On the matter of the involvement of academics with the PASP, it must be emphasised that each school on this program was linked with an academic to provide support and to facilitate research on the effectiveness of the overall program and the strategies employed within and across the schools involved.

Informal and formal feedback from schools confirms the success of the PASP. Consistent with established educational practice, however, the parties involved should consider this feedback in conjunction with the research findings.

Given the NSW Government has not confirmed the continuation of the PASP beyond 2004, it is imperative that public education stakeholders in NSW are provided with copies of the evaluation report and other related academic research.

In light of the above, and arising from the decisions of our 2004 Annual Conference, Federation requested that Dr Refshauge instruct the Department of Education and Training to forward this information without further delay.

Federation will mobilise PSFP and PASP schools for statewide campaigning if the Government fails to deliver in this area. In an era of diminishing resources for public education, a widening gap between 'the haves and have-nots' in our society, and a grim policy convergence from the major political parties, it is crucial that the NSW Government fulfils its commitments to schools serving low socio-economic status communities.

Gary Zadkovich is the Administration (Media and Communications) Officer.

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