In this issue:

• Time to reform educational assessment
• Low SES student enrolment target may be within reach
• Beyond feasibility – possible futures for learning outcomes assessment
• Outcomes assessment feasible in Australia
• ACER Update

Significant reform is needed in the field of educational assessment, according to a review by Professor Geoff Masters, Chief Executive of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER).

Reforming Educational Assessment: Imperatives, principles and challenges, released at an ACER conference in March, calls for a reconceptualisation of assessment and reporting in schools in order that they focus on the progress that students make, regardless of their starting points.

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New modelling by ACER shows Australia may be closer than previously thought to achieving its target of raising the proportion of undergraduate students from low socioeconomic backgrounds to 20 per cent by 2020.

In the latest ACER Joining the Dots research briefing, ACER Principal Research Fellow Dr Daniel Edwards explores the use of a new measure of socioeconomic status (SES) that is based on students’ prior residential address, rather than their address once attending university, to monitor the participation of underprivileged groups in higher education.

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ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Sarah Richardson reflects on the momentum behind the assessment of student learning outcomes following the completion of the OECD’s Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes Feasibility Study.

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Following the implementation of the engineering component of the OECD Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes Feasibility Study in Australia, ACER Principal Research Fellow Dr Daniel Edwards reports on the successes and lessons learned.

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Vocational and workplace education and training conference

The second National Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Conference, addressing the theme, ‘Building on evidence to improve skills,’ brings together evidence-based research with industry and training perspectives in order to share and discuss issues around the assessment of language, literacy and numeracy (LLN) and implications for effective vocational and workplace education and training (VET).

Speakers at the conference include researchers, managers and coordinators with local and international expertise in LLN skills and adult learning, from industry and the VET sector, along with policy makers from industry, industry skills councils and government. Keynote presentations will be delivered by:

• Robin Shreeve, CEO, Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency; 
• Pam Christie, Managing Director, TAFE NSW; and
• Dr John Mitchell, Managing Director, JMA Analytics.

The conference takes place at Ultimo College, Sydney Institute, on 9 and 10 May 2013. Further information is available from www.acer.edu.au/nallnac

Schools First award applications open

Applications for the 2013 NAB Schools First awards are now open. This year $2 million in funding will be shared between the winners of 25 Impact Awards, 55 Seed Funding Awards, 10 Student Awards and the state and national winners.

In 2013, NAB Schools First is introducing key themes which encapsulate the ways in which school-community partnerships are providing students with resources, knowledge and expertise to face the challenges of the 21st century. These themes are based on areas that schools around Australia are already engaged in within their communities and address a variety of student needs, including: living sustainably; being active and well; caring for your community; embracing diversity; Asia ready; work ready; and entrepreneurial spirit.

NAB Schools First is a strong partnership between NAB, ACER and the Foundation for Young Australians. Operating since 2009, NAB Schools First has awarded $18 million to 440 schools for their work in building school-community partnerships. To find out more and to download application forms, awards criteria, guidelines, and Terms and Conditions visit www.schoolsfirst.edu.au

Principal for a Day

Principal for a Day is a collaboration between schools and their communities that aims to increase and strengthen relationships, based on knowledge and understanding, between the private sector and education. Victoria’s Principal for a Day event takes place this year on Wednesday 14 August. The program is a joint partnership between ACER and the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and has been running in Victoria since 2001. Schools and community or business leaders interested in participating in the 2013 event can obtain more information from www.acer.edu.au/pfad or by contacting Ms Viv Acker on 03 9277 5617 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Research Developments

ACER last year determined to replace the print edition of Research Developments, after 14 years, with a free, online-only magazine, coming in May. Subscribe to Research Developments and get the latest school education news direct to your inbox.