What's new2011 ACE National ConferenceThe National Conference of the Australian College of Educators will be held 14-15 July 2011. The conference, titled Equity in education - Connecting for change, will explore key questions about equity in education that go to the heart of Australian education policy and help make the connections between policy, practice and research. See the website for more details, including the conference brochure. Further discussion of NAPLANThe Australian Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett has emphasised that it is inappropriate for schools to use NAPLAN results to determine the enrolment of a student. See Minister's statement and article in the Herald Sun, both 19 May 2011. School fundingThe Australian Government's review of school funding continues to be discussed in public forums. See article in the Sydney Morning Herald 16 May and article in The Australian 27 May 2011. Further discussion of teacher performance bonusesAn article in the Sydney Morning Herald 17 May 2011 presents various points of view on the benefits of performance bonuses for teachers. New law to protect academic freedomThe Australian Government has introduced legislation aiming to provide more explicit protection for academic freedom. See article in the Sydney Morning Herald 27 May 2011. Parents urge continued support of special needs children in Qld kindergartensThe Isolated Children's Parents' Association (ICPA) has urged the Queensland Government to continue funding special kindergarten enrolments. See report on ABC News 26 May 2011. Literacy and numeracy forum to help close the gapEarlier this week, the Australian Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett, opened a forum of school leaders, Indigenous education workers, teachers and researchers involved in intensive literacy and numeracy projects aimed at improving the academic results of Indigenous school students. See Minister's statement 23 May 2011. Concern over falling numbers taking SA geographyGeography teachers in South Australia have expressed concern at declining enrolments in the subject at senior secondary level. See article in the Advertiser (Adelaide Now) 27 May 2011. Funding for parent groups across SASchool and preschool parent groups in South Australia will share $60,000 in grants announced by state Education and Early Childhood Development Minister, Jay Weatherill. See Minister's statement 25 May 2011. Student behaviour centres established in SANew measures to get disruptive students back on track with learning are now underway at the first two of South Australia's Better Behaviour Centres. See statement 19 May 2011 by South Australia's Education and Early Childhood Development Minister, Jay Weatherill. Helping teachers help students at risk of homelessness in SASouth Australian teachers will receive special support on how to help homeless students, and students at risk of becoming homeless, through a new guide released by Education Minister, Jay Weatherill. See Minister's statement 13 May 2011. Community service role for pre-service teachersPostgraduate students from the University of Western Sydney (UWS) are assisting local organisations that care for children with special needs. The cohort of Master of Education (Primary) students are all participating in the University's innovative Classrooms without Borders (CWB) program. The program requires each student to volunteer for 20–30 hours on a community project or within a not-for-profit organisation that directly assists disadvantaged people or minority groups in Greater Western Sydney. See UWS statement 4 May 2011. |