In this issue:

• Schools First launched
• Careers advice well received by students
• ACER prioritises ICT research agenda with new appointment
• ACER UPDATE

ACER is a partner in Schools First, a new initiative to help build school-community partnerships. Schools First is a national initiative that aims to build stronger partnerships between schools and their local communities. Schools First will provide regional, state and national awards to schools to the value of $15 million over the next three years.

The Schools First Awards have been developed by National Australia Bank and three not-for-profit organisations: ACER, Australia Cares, and the Foundation for Young Australians. National Australia Bank has committed to funding the awards and all operating costs for the program over the initial three years.

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A new study of young Australians’ perceptions of the career advice received in secondary school has found that almost all students access career advice between Years 10 and 12 and believe the information provided met their individual needs.

The study, released by ACER on 7 October, concluded that a school’s career advice program needs to encompass as many career advice activities as possible as students have different needs from career advice and these needs can change over time. Young people appear to appreciate a wider variety of activities in their career advice program as it may provide them with more opportunities to find a career they wish to pursue.

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ACER has appointed of Mr Gerry White to the newly-created position of Principal Research Fellow in the area of Research and Digital Learning. The appointment signals ACER’s commitment to providing high quality research to support policy and practice in the use of technology in education.

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CEET to hold 12th annual National Conference

The Centre for the Economics of Education & Training, a joint structure between ACER and Monash University, will hold its 12th National Conference on Friday 31 October 2008. The theme will be ‘The expansion of education and training: Ensuring relevance, quality and inclusion.' The conference will be held at Ascot House, 50 Fenton St, Ascot Vale, Melbourne. 

Speakers will include Tom  Karmel, Peter Noonan, Chandra Shah, Gerald Burke, Phillip McKenzie, Fran  Ferrier, Sue North, Rob Fearnside and Jack Keating. Further details are available from the CEET website 

Assessment and reporting of employability skills

The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard released a report by ACER that addresses the assessment and reporting of employability skills of senior secondary students on 17 October. The Study into the Assessment and Reporting of Employability Skills of Senior Secondary Students, was undertaken between July 2007 and January 2008. The main task in this project was to evaluate options for assessing and reporting each of eight employability skills against five criteria, and to recommend a preferred approach. The report, by Gabrielle Matters and David Curtis, is available from the DEEWR website.

Why not the Best Schools?

Why not the best schools? What we have learned from outstanding schools around the world, by Brian Caldwell and Jessica Harris will be launched by Professor Glyn Davis AC, Vice-Chancellor, The University of Melbourne, on 30 October.

Why not the Best Schools? offers a ten-point, ten-year plan for an education revolution that will result in the transformation of Australia's schools.  The book draws on a five-year study culminating in the International Project to Frame the Transformation of Schools conducted in Australia, China, England, Finland, the United States and Wales. There are 6 Case Study books, sold separately and. They are available online from ACER Press