Programs to engage Indigenous students, increase their school attendance and encourage students to finish secondary school and aim for tertiary education will all benefit from federal government funding that aims to close the achievement gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. Indigenous health services and welfare initiatives are also a focus for increased funding. Read More...

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) will engage key education stakeholders in the evaluation of the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers. A team of professionals including Professor Stephen Dinham and Professor John Hattie will lead the evaluation, which aims to support implementation of the Standards and ultimately to ensure high student outcomes are achieved through consistent teacher quality. Read More...

Minister for School Education Peter Garrett has urged school communities not to put undue pressure on students to perform in NAPLAN tests. While stressing the data will target resources where they are most needed, Mr Garrett also explained that the results do not factor into end-of-year reports. It is intended NAPLAN tests will be administered online from 2016, when Science will also be added to the regime. Read More...

Save Our Schools (SOS) has accused education authorities of neglecting to adequately inform parents that NAPLAN tests are not mandatory. The NAPLAN brochure produced by the Australian Curriculum, Reporting and Assessment Authority does not mention that parents can withdraw children from the tests, and only two education department websites explicitly include this fact. SOS suggests schools should alert parents to the possibility of withdrawal via their newsletters. Read More...

As part of the growing emphasis placed on NAPLAN results, many non-government schools are now considering students' NAPLAN scores during their entry process. While some schools use the results as one of many sources of information about prospective students, the Australian Tutoring Association chief executive believes parents are increasingly concerned about the value that will be placed on their child's NAPLAN testing. Read More...

With NSW the only state currently signed up to the federal government's Gonski reforms, Queensland has left the door open for agreement to be reached. The federal government is offering to contribute two dollars for every one dollar the state contributes, and according to State treasurer Tim Nicholls, Queensland remains committed to forging the best deal for its students. Read More...