ACER eNews


Schools First awards closing soon Schools have just one more week to submit their applications for a Schools First Award with applications closing at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday, 30 July 2010. ACER is a partner in Schools First, a national initiative that aims to build stronger partnerships between schools and their local communities. This awards program rewards excellence in existing school-community partnerships and encourages excellence in new partnerships. The primary objective of Schools First is to improve student outcomes by recognising and strengthening the partnerships that already exist between schools and their communities, and by encouraging new relationships and initiatives. Schools First offers regional, state and national awards with a prize pool of more than $5 million each year for three years. Any school in Australia can apply for either an Impact or Seed Funding Award. The Schools First Awards have been developed by ACER, the Foundation for Young Australians and the National Australia Bank. ACER conducted the original research that underpins the Schools First program, developed the criteria for the awards, trains the judges to ensure consistency in the assessment of schools’ applications, assesses all applications, and provides customised feedback to each school that has submitted an application. These customised reports incorporate feedback from the assessors and are intended to help schools identify what they are doing well and what they might do to further develop their community partnerships. In 2010, a total of 108 awards and $5.2 million in funding has been made available for schools around Australia, compared to 88 awards and $4.95 million last year. Of the 108 awards, 40 will be for outstanding Seed Funding applications and 68 will be for outstanding Impact Award applicaitons. ACER Senior Project Director Sharon Clerke says the best applications in 2009 showed clear and strong evidence of: having identified a student need (or opportunity) within the school collaborative decision-making and planning and shared expertise between the school and at least one community partner student-focused and educationally beneficial activities for students clear links between the identified need or opportunity, goals of the program of activities and tangible or anticipated outcomes. ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the partnership and program strong commitment from both school and partner to the partnership and program. For further information and to apply visit www.schoolsfirst.edu.au « Back to eNews
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Schools have just one more week to submit their applications for a Schools First Award with applications closing at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday, 30 July 2010.

ACER is a partner in Schools First, a national initiative that aims to build stronger partnerships between schools and their local communities. This awards program rewards excellence in existing school-community partnerships and encourages excellence in new partnerships.

The primary objective of Schools First is to improve student outcomes by recognising and strengthening the partnerships that already exist between schools and their communities, and by encouraging new relationships and initiatives. Schools First offers regional, state and national awards with a prize pool of more than $5 million each year for three years. Any school in Australia can apply for either an Impact or Seed Funding Award.

The Schools First Awards have been developed by ACER, the Foundation for Young Australians and the National Australia Bank.

ACER conducted the original research that underpins the Schools First program, developed the criteria for the awards, trains the judges to ensure consistency in the assessment of schools’ applications, assesses all applications, and provides customised feedback to each school that has submitted an application. These customised reports incorporate feedback from the assessors and are intended to help schools identify what they are doing well and what they might do to further develop their community partnerships.

In 2010, a total of 108 awards and $5.2 million in funding has been made available for schools around Australia, compared to 88 awards and $4.95 million last year. Of the 108 awards, 40 will be for outstanding Seed Funding applications and 68 will be for outstanding Impact Award applicaitons.

ACER Senior Project Director Sharon Clerke says the best applications in 2009 showed clear and strong evidence of:

having identified a student need (or opportunity) within the school
collaborative decision-making and planning and shared expertise between the school and at least one community partner
student-focused and educationally beneficial activities for students
clear links between the identified need or opportunity, goals of the program of activities and tangible or anticipated outcomes.
ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the partnership and program
strong commitment from both school and partner to the partnership and program.

For further information and to apply visit www.schoolsfirst.edu.au

Schools First awards closing soon