Education system evaluation

Abstract

Monitoring progress towards educational goals is a priority both at the national and systemic levels. This is accomplished namely through the National Assessment Program and state- and territory-based assessments. The monitoring system also includes a Measurement Framework for National Key Performance Measures as well as data and surveys at the systemic level. The strategy draws considerably on public reporting of the progress and performance of Australian students and schools through instruments such as the My School website, the National Report on Schooling in Australia, COAG Reform Council Reports, Report on Government Services in addition to system-level analyses organised through independent reviews. System evaluation builds on a considerable number of strengths: there are clear standard frameworks both for reporting key performance measures and for general government sector reporting; the comparability and coverage of national data are continuously improving; there are strong procedures for system monitoring at the state and territory level; there is transparency in reporting results of national monitoring; and there is extensive use of results from the national monitoring system. Priorities for future policy development include continuing and prioritising efforts to meet information needs for national monitoring; clarifying the role of the National Assessment Program in relation to the Australian Curriculum; further exploiting results from jurisdiction and national monitoring systems for systemic school improvement; and supporting and promoting greater monitoring in the non-government sector.