This leaflet was distributed to the community via the Sun-Herald and Federation Representatives.

Determination leads to gains on student reports

Strength and determination about resisting compulsory A-E reporting has already resulted in gains, reports WENDY CURRIE.

Congratulations to everyone for the strength and determination you have shown in the face of both federal and state governments that believe they can tell you and your school community how to report on student achievement, without any consultation with the teaching profession and without any consideration of the diverse contexts in which teaching and learning occurs.

The efforts of teachers and teacher unions across Australia have forced significant changes to the intended arrangements. While what is occurring in each state and territory differs, in NSW, at least, the following has occurred:

1. In collaboration with parent and school principal groups in late 2005, Federation succeeded in having the requirement to report in quartiles removed.
2. Through the same process, and supported by teachers across the state, kindergarten was removed from the requirements altogether.
3. Teachers demonstrating their resolve -- for example, by passing resolutions in schools and forwarding them to the NSW Minister, and by making their views known to politicians, Department of Education and Training (DET) officials, parents and local communities -- has resulted in the latest change announced by DET in Reporting to Parents School Bulletin No. 6, issued on July 21. It says: "the A to E grades in Year 1 and Year 2 school reports will apply only to English and Mathematics. Grading and reporting A to E achievement in the other four learning areas will not be required."

The significance of these gains, which show that the requirements are not immutable, is even more apparent when you look at their wording.

In mid-2005, the Federal Government attached the conditions to the legislation that determines federal schools funding, in the form of a regulation called the Schools Assistance (Learning Together -- Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Regulations 2005.

They include a number of reporting and accountability requirements, including student reports that apply to every school student in Australia. Part of the regulations reads:

"(d) the student report must include, for subjects studied, an assessment against achievement levels or bands defined by the education authority or school, being levels or band that:
"(i) must be labelled as A, B, C, D, E (or equivalent); and
"(ii) should be clearly defined against specific learning standards; and
"(e) the student report must also include, for subjects studied, the child's achievement relative to the achievement of the child's peer group at the school by at least quartile bands."

Significantly the regulation includes the words "or equivalent" after A-E grading. Federation does not believe the NSW Government has tested what this means. We believe it means there is some flexibility in the wording of these grades and that it is the NSW Government that has mandated the use of A-E grades for all students from years 1 to 10.

The gains made to date show that the federal regulations are not immutable.

What can you do?

What can you do now to further this campaign? Continue to express your concerns to DET officers, for example, at professional development activities or by email or mail. Send a letter, fax or email to politicians. Reassert your school's determination not to comply with the new requirements, but to use your current form of reporting at the end of the year. Work with your school community to determine action that is appropriate in your local context. Go to the reports section of the Federation's website (www.nswtf.org.au/reports) for further information and advice.

The Federation's community leaflet appeared as an insert in the Sun-Herald

on July 16. Copies have been distributed to Federation Representatives in schools and it is available on the website. You should endeavour to ensure parents in your school have seen this leaflet.

A letter from the President and the General Secretary has been posted to every temporary or permanent school member. The letter assures members of the Federation's full support for schools in following our professional advice.

The Annual Conference decision on student reports is also available in the reports section of the website. In part, Conference determined that:

"Federation is seeking to negotiate:
"a) That implementation is not required until 2007;
"b) The use of 'A to E' terminology be at the school's discretion with a range of other options made available;
"c) That years 1-3 are removed from the reporting requirements entirely;
"d) A consistent form of words to be used in reports inviting parents to the school to discuss their child's progress, including all relevant data and commentary;
"e) That protocols be developed about any potential linking of student report data with Annual School Reports;
"f) That DET provide additional training and development funding for each school in implementing the new reports and for consistency of teacher judgement;
"g) The removal of individual comments and ranking for the key learning areas subjects of creative and performing arts, personal development/heath/physical education, human society and its environment and science and technology for all primary grades."
Wendy Currie is a Research Officer.

Don't label students with 'failure'

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August 2006 contents