Country: |
Australia |
Seminar Title: |
Australian Elementary and Secondary School Policy Directions and Priorities |
Tentative Dates: |
Pre-departure orientation: July 27-28, 2011
Two weeks: July 30 – August 13, 2011 |
Participants: |
Chief state school officers, deputy commissioners, and other high-level public school administrators |
Program Content:
The Australian education system has been recognized by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and other international organizations as a high performing and innovative system. This seminar program is designed to provide senior U.S. education administrators with responsibilities for elementary and secondary education with the opportunity to meet with their Australian federal and state education counterparts for an informed overview of the Australian education policy framework, priorities and new initiatives.
The seminar program will include visits to a number of schools in different states for firsthand experience about school practices and the responsibilities between federal and state jurisdictions, as well as the role of private and public schools. The interests of the U.S. administrators will also be taken into consideration in the selection of schools in city, suburban and regional areas.
The following provide an indication of some recent federal policy initiatives for discussion with the U.S. delegation:
- the first draft from the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority for the first national curriculum for K-10 English, mathematics, science and history, which will soon be expanded to include geography, languages and the arts;
- the launch of the My School Web site with comparative information about each of Australia’s 10,000 schools including the number of students, number of teachers, and how the school is performing in national literacy and numeracy testing;
- the National Partnership on Teacher Quality which identifies the development of nationally consistent teacher standards, following initial consultation on Draft National Professional Standards for Teachers which closed in May 2010;
- National Partnerships for Smarter Schools - a federal and state government commitment to addressing disadvantaged students, through supporting teachers and improving literacy and numeracy; and
- Building the Education Revolution - a $16.2 billion investment towards new infrastructure and refurbishments in all eligible Australian schools.
The following is an indicative seminar program:
- A pre-departure orientation program over two days in Washington, D.C. (Wednesday-Thursday, July 27-28, 2011) for an outline of Australian education policies from an Australian education official, and for an overview of the visit program from the Fulbright Program Manager from Australia;
- Departure from Washington, D.C. on Thursday, July 28, 2011, for arrival in Canberra via Sydney on morning of Saturday, July 20, 2011;
- Formal program beginning in Canberra on Monday, with an introduction to Australian elementary and secondary education from Federal government officials; role of the Federal Department of Education in policy formulation, funding and professional development for state and private elementary and secondary schools, including development of national curriculum, national accreditation and teacher standards; visits to selected schools in Canberra in the afternoon;
- Travel to Melbourne, Victoria, on Tuesday, to examine the Victorian state education systems including state and private school organizations and funding, as well as examples of schools operated by specific church organizations. Also discussions with the Australian Council of Educational Research and the Victorian State Department of Education to learn about State accreditation of teachers, determination of standards and evaluation of student learning outcomes. In addition, consideration of community involvement through school councils and parent / teacher associations;
- Visit selected elementary and secondary schools for discussions on the implementation of state educational policies;
- Travel to Cairns on Saturday, August 6, 2011, for briefings and school visits in a regional area of the state of Queensland; discussions on how the Queensland College of Teachers implements state policy and the accreditation of teachers, including continuing professional development of teachers. In Cairns, there will be time to explore the Great Barrier Reef and the Rainforest hinterland;
- Travel to Sydney, New South Wales (NSW) on Tuesday, August 9, 2011, for meetings with the NSW Department of Education, NSW Institute of Teachers and a regional directorate of education. This will include discussions on student welfare, curriculum development and implementation, and professional development of teachers to achieve prescribed standards; review of the responsibilities of Federal, state and private education systems and the ways in which the respective jurisdictions interrelate;
- Closing meeting to review the visit program, and share observations about the Australian and the American education systems, as contributions to a seminar report;
- Departure for the United States on Saturday, August 13, 2011, for arrival into the United States on same day.
The delegation will be accompanied during the visit by a representative from the company organizing the visit schedule to assist with all travel and accommodation arrangements and by a staff member from the Australian-American Fulbright Commission. Throughout the program, and particularly on weekends, there will be opportunities for delegates to experience Australian lifestyle, culture and heritage for an appreciation of the broader environment in which the different communities and education systems operate. The program will include some lunch or dinner events to meet with Australian and American colleagues and some theatre and other visits.
The Australian-American Fulbright Commission at www.fulbright.com.au will administer the seminar on behalf of the U.S. Department of Education.
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