The Legislative Assembly’s Standing Committee on Education, Employment and Youth Affairs has invited public submissions to its inquiry into Standardised Testing in ACT schools, such as NAPLAN.
Chair of the Committee, Michael Pettersson MLA said it had resolved to inquire into and report on the purpose and use of standardised testing in ACT schools, including consideration of how the results informed teaching.
“The Committee will also look at how the ACT is performing against equivalent schools in other jurisdictions and over the long term,” Mr Pettersson said.
“The Committee would like to hear from a range of stakeholders and would particularly like to hear from schools, parents, teachers and students around the implications of standardised testing.”
He said terms of reference include consideration of the purpose of standardised testing, the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), alternative forms of assessment and reporting, how test results were used and the amount of time devoted to preparing for and conducting assessments.
Mr Pettersson said the Committee would also consider the impact on student wellbeing and mental health, the effect on teacher morale, the cost of standardised testing, and the ACT’s performance in standardised testing.
The full terms of reference are on the Committee’s website at this PS News link.
Submissions should be lodged by 30 July, and the Committee intends to hold public hearings in September.
