students have special needs such as student newly arrived in Australia, ESL students and students with intellectual disabilities.
2. The timeline for implementation is unsound. There is no supporting software available in schools, little professional development and secondary schools are implementing new curricula.
3. There has been no consultation about the secondary reports and there was no consultation with Federation before the Department of Education and Training sent out its memorandum on February 9.
4. The Ellis Review, established to consider primary reporting processes in NSW, has been hijacked by the State and Federal governments' "one size fits all" policy.
History
Federation sparked the Eltis Review in 2003 as a response to the incredibly detailed and complex reporting that was occurring in NSW primary schools. Federation sought to secure reporting practices in primary schools that were easy for parents to understand and did not require excessive workload.
Federation was represented on the Eltis Reference Group which was established in March 2004. For 18 months the Eltis Reference Group worked to develop new reporting processes for primary schools. The Eltis Reference Group did not discuss secondary reports and there has been no consultation about the new secondary reporting requirements.
In 2005 Federation, working with parents and principal organisations, was successful in removing the Federal Government requirement for quartile rankings on the new report cards. This important achievement highlights that the Federal Government's regulations are mutable and that more can be achieved. It should be noted that the Federal Government's regulations require "A to E" or equivalent.
Industrial Relations Commission
The State Government referred the student report card matter to the Commission because of Federation's advice to schools. The State Government discontinued the case on March 8.
However, the student report card matter is not resolved.
Negotiations
Federation is negotiating for reporting frameworks as guidelines for schools. Within the guidelines established by the frameworks, school staff (in consultation with the school community) would have the professional discretion to meet the needs of their students.
The Catholic school system is also subject to the Federal Government's regulations. That system will not have one rigid standardised report. Each of the 11 Dioceses will make decisions. Federation has reports that some Diocese are offering their schools options.
Federation is also adamantly opposed to mandatory implementation in 2006.
In Victoria the report cards are optional in 2006.
Public school principals and teachers have always worked hard with their parent communities to get student reporting right. State and Federal governments do not recognise, or even respect, the work of the teaching profession and the established relationships which exist in the school community. 2006 should not be a government experiment that is disruptive, damaging to students and not workable. It is far better to achieve acceptable reporting frameworks and spend 2006 planning for sound and thorough implementation in 2007.
Maree O'Halloran is the President.
Other states and territories
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