What national standards mean for parents
Schools with children in years 1 to 8 will use new national standards in reading, writing and mathematics from 2010.
Prime Minister John Key said the new national standards would lift achievement levels for New Zealand children, and give parents plain English reporting on their child’s progress. "As many as one–in-five students are being left behind. We need to identify those students early so they get the help they need to make progress.”
The Government will invest $36 million over four years to support schools to implement the national standards.
The standards were released in October to education sector concern that the narrow focus excluded support for art, music, science and physical education.
New Zealand Education Institute president Frances Nelson said it was important to ensure a focus on improved student achievement across the broader school curriculum, not just in literacy and numeracy.
The Ministry of Education has advised that:
National standards aim to help children do better in reading, writing and mathematics by being clear about what they should be able to do, and by when.
From 2010, parents, families and wh?nau with children in years 1 to 8 will receive written reports twice each year on how their child is doing in reading, writing and mathematics in relation to the standards. Teachers will use a range of assessments to make an overall teacher judgment to work out where a child is at and what their next learning steps are.
Children start at different learning points and progress at different rates, so both the progress rate and actual achievement are important.
National standards written reports should include:
• Your child’s goals and how they are progressing towards those goals
• Your child’s progress and achievement in relation to reading, writing and mathematics, reported as: above the standard, at the standard, below the standard or well below the standard
• The results of assessment
• Ways you can support your child’s learning
• What the teacher and school will do to support your child’s learning.
Each school could decide to include national standards reporting as part of its current reporting process on all curriculum areas, or it could develop a separate way of reporting.
You can talk to the teacher, make suggestions and ask questions about the information in your child’s written reports at parent-teacher meetings and during informal discussions at any time during the year.
National standards reports on your child’s progress and achievement in reading, writing and mathematics will help you to:
• Be more aware of how your child is doing at school and what’s being done to help them learn
• Identify any learning difficulties early and how these will be addressed
• Follow your child’s learning progress over time
• Understand what you can do to support your child’s learning
• Be informed and know what questions to ask when discussing your child’s education with teachers and the school.
During 2010, you will receive your child’s first progress report showing their progress and achievements in reading, writing and mathematics in relation to the national standards. Your child’s school will let you know when to expect this.
From 2011, schools will also report to the community on the school-wide progress and achievement against the national standards.
Nga Whanaketanga Ramaki Maori – Maori-medium national standards will be trialled in 2010. The trial will also include consultation with schools, parents, families and whanau.
