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A chronology of education in Queensland

1824-1850 | 1851-1875 | 1876-1900 | 1901-1925 | 1926-1950 | 1951-1975 | 1976-2000 | 2000-2008

2000-2008

2000-01

The New Basics trial continued.
Vocational education and training participation in schools increased to more than 60 per cent.
Additional teachers and teacher aides were employed for students with disabilities.
The Framework for Students at Educational Risk was launched.
Older secondary schools continued a program of renewal.
The first school reflecting the development of Middle Schooling as part of a P-12 campus opened in Cairns (Bentley Park College).

2001-02

Central and District Offices were realigned and seven Corporate Services Units were established.
Literate Futures: Whole-School Literacy Planning Guidelines was released to support a coordinated approach to improving literacy.
The implementation of policy and guidelines for the Years 1-10 curriculum framework commenced while the implementation of the new syllabuses for Years 1-10 progressed.
The seven point plan--A Better Deal for Students with Disabilities was implemented.
The program, A Framework for Students at Educational Risk was implemented.
A new educational leaders classification structure was developed.
The Professional Standards for Teachers Pilot commenced.

2002-03

The reforms outlined in Queensland the Smart State ---Education and Training Reforms for the Future: A White Paper were implemented.
The first phase of the Preparing for School trial at thirty state, six Catholic and three independent schools commenced.
New syllabuses in Science, Health and Physical Education, Languages Other Than English (LOTE), Studies of Society and Environment (SOSE) and the Arts were implemented.
Reforms to the Senior Phase of Learning including selecting trial sites in seven areas continued.
An annual ICT plan to integrate ICTs into the curriculum was developed in all state schools.
A range of initiatives were introduced to improve outcomes for students at educational risk.
The Partners for Success strategy was expanded through partnerships between schools in indigenous communities and major local employers.
A pilot program of Professional Standards for Teachers was completed.
The integration of ICTs into learning and teaching was supported through tailored skills programs.

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2003-04

The Youth Participation in Education and Training Act 2003 was passed. Some provisions have commenced but many will not commence until 2006.
The Youth Participation in Education and Training Act 2003 provides for a 'compulsory participation phase' which commences when a young person stops being of compulsory school age and finishes when the young person either gains a senior certificate or certificate 111, has participated for 2 years beyond the compulsory school age or turns 17 years of age.
More than 60 local programs to help keep senior students in learning have been developed as part of the 'learning or earning' reforms.
The Grammar Schools & Other Legislation Amendment Act 2003 amended the Grammar School Act 1975.
The Education and Other Legislation (Student Protection) Amendment Act 2003 amended the Education (Teacher Registration) Act 1988 and was passed. All provisions of the former Act will commence by June 2004.
The Education (General Provisions) Amendment Act 2003 amended the Education (General Provisions) Act 1989 to provide for the protection of students from violent and aggressive intruders. The provisions of this Act commence in 2004.
52 Non State schools in the hottest parts of Queensland received funding for air-conditioning from the Cooler Schools subsidy scheme.
The Department of Education and the Arts was established in Feb 2004.
Second phase of the Preparing for School trial commenced.
The Middle Phase of Learning Action Plan was launched.
The impact of the New Basics trial on curriculum, teaching methods, assessment, and student outcomes was evaluated in The New Basics Research Report.
The reduction of State school class sizes in Years 4 to 10 commenced.
The full implementation of the Science, Health and Physical Education, Languages Other than English and Studies of Society and the Environment syllabuses was completed.
The Department of Education and the Arts worked with the Department of Child Safety to develop individual education plans for students in the care of the State.

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2004-05

The implementation of the Education and Training Reforms for the Future(ETRF) continued including:
- Phased in the Preparatory Year at a further 25 State schools and five non-State schools.
- The Middle Phase of Learning State School Action Plan was further implemented.
- Expanded the Senior Phase of Learning trials in State and non State schools statewide.
- Finalised the three-year ICTs for Learning Strategy.
The actions outlined in Changes to Schools Reporting commenced.
The four year Safe and Healthy Schools initiative commenced.
The publication, Smart Choices: Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy was distributed.
Education Queensland worked with industry under the Education Queensland Industry School Engagement Strategy on initiatives including the Aerospace Project, Queensland College of Wine Tourism and the ICT Industry Partnership.
A new plan for Students with Disabilities that improves services and support for students with disabilities commenced implementation.
New Guidelines for Home Schooling Dispensation were approved from 2005. A Home Schooling Support Unit was established to support parents who choose to home school their children.
A Ministerial Advisory Panel on Higher Education was established.
A Director of Child Safety was appointed. Education Support Plans for children and young people in the care of the State were implemented.
A further four Partners for Success Centres of Excellence were established bringing the total number to 7.
An Indigenous Education Leadership Institute was established in partnership between the Department and the Queensland University of Technology.
The Framework for Gifted Education was released.
The Cooler Schools program air-conditioned 67 schools in the Cooler Schools zone.
The Education Legislation Amendment Act 2004 amended several portfolio Acts including:
- Education (Capital Assistance) Act 1993 refined the procedural requirements for the provision of capital assistance to non-state schools.
- Education(General Provisions) Act 1989: Two significant amendments were made to this Act including criminal history checking of mature age students. The Act also required the governing bodies of non-state schools that are eligible for government funding under the Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2001 to provide the Minister with financial data on a yearly basis.
- Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2005: This Act amended the Education(Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2001 to ensure that funds only go to schools that are not being operated for profit.
- Education (Teacher Registration) Act 1988: The Minister announced a review of the functions and powers of the Board of Teacher Registration.
- Grammar Schools Act 1975: Technical amendments were made to clarify electoral eligibility.

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2005-06

The implementation of the Education and Training Reforms for the Future(ETRF) continued including:
- Phased in the Preparatory Year at a further 21 State schools and five non-State schools, and prepared for the introduction of a full time, non-compulsory prep year in 2007.
- Progressed the implementation of the Middle Phase of Learning State School Action Plan.
- Completion of the 3 year trial of the Senior Phase of Learning reforms.
- Commenced implementing the Smart Classrooms strategy.
The Bound for Success - Education Strategy for Torres Strait was developed to improve educational outcomes for all students across the Torres Strait and Cape York.
A planning framework was developed to improve Indigenous student outcomes through the launch of:
- Crossing Cultures: It's Everyone's Business, a cross-cultural awareness package; and
- Embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspectives in Schools resource.
The Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework was developed.
The Literacy - the Key to Learning: Framework for Action 2006-2008 was developed to improve student achievement across all phases of learning.
The Smart Choices: Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools was developed.
The Education Adjustment Program Beginning School profile was developed and implemented.
The development of two Queensland Academies commenced.
A review of homework for Queensland students was initiated.
The Code of School Behaviour was developed as part of the Better Behaviour, Better Learning initiative.
The Queensland College of Teachers was established.
The Indigenous Education Leadership Institute was launched.
The Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005 and Regulation commenced on 1 January 2006. It established the Queensland College of Teachers to continue and enhance the work of the previous Board of Teacher Registration.
The Youth Participation in Education and Training Act and Regulation commenced on 1 January 2006. It required students to complete Year 10 and to participate in further education, training or work for two years once they had completed Year 10.
The Education (General Provisions) Amendment Regulation(no.1) 2005 prescribed the relevant fee which applies to certain persons enrolled in a program of distance education. The Regulation provides that the fee may be waived in certain circumstances.

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2006-07

The Department of Education, Training and the Arts was created.
The state-wide introduction of the non-compulsory Preparatory (Prep) Year commenced.
The Early Years Curriculum Guidelines were developed for use in Prep.
The Senior Phase of Learning reforms were implemented.
Students who completed Year 10 were the first students eligible to have their workplace, university and community learning achievements recorded as part of the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE).
The Smart Classrooms strategy continued.
The Smart Choices – the Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools became mandatory. Healthy lifestyle was promoted through the Safe and Healthy Schools policy.
The first two Queensland Academies accepted enrolments. Their curriculum framework was based on the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program.
The Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework was further developed.
The Literacy the Key to Learning: Framework for Action 2006 – 2008 was released.
Regional Literacy Managers were appointed and trained. Heads of Curriculum (HOC) positions were allocated in primary and special schools.
The Partners for Success Strategy, to improve education and employment outcomes for Indigenous students, continued.
The Bound for Success: Education Strategy for Cape York was released to improve the education outcomes of students in Cape York.
The Industry School Engagement Strategy continued through:
- The Aerospace Project.
- The Queensland College of Wine Tourism and educational/work experience opportunities for students through seven Wine Industry Gateway Schools.
- Trade Immersion Program.
- ICT Gateway Schools Project.
- Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy.
Aviation High, the hub for 17 gateway schools in the Aerospace Project, opened.
The State Schools of Tomorrow initiative commenced.
Class sizes were reduced in Years 4 to 10 from 30 to 28 students.
The Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 was passed.
The Education Legislation Amendment Act 2006 amended several portfolio Acts including:
- Education (General Provisions) Act 2006.
- Education (Queensland College of Teachers) Act 2005.
- Education (Queensland Studies Authority) Act 2002.
- Minor and consequential amendments to:
  - Education (Accreditation of Non-State Schools) Act 2001.
  - Education(Queensland Studies Authority) Act 2002.
  - Freedom of Information Act 1992.
  - Higher Education (General Provisions) Act 2003.

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2007-08

Phase 1 of the Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) framework was completed in conjunction with the Queensland Studies Authority.
QCAR Essential Learnings released in all schools.
Queensland Academy for Health Sciences opened.
Year of Physical Activity launched integrating physical activities into the school curricula.
Smart Moves: Physical Activity Programs was launched.
The first full cohort of Prep commenced.
The implementation of the four year transition program to Auslan commenced.
Asbestos Roof Replacement Program completed.
Water-saving devices installed in schools and TAFE institutes.
The whole-of-department Indigenous Learning and Arts Strategic Plan 2008 – 2011 was developed.
Pre-Prep program was implemented across 35 indigenous communities.
Numeracy: Lifelong Confidence with Mathematics Framework for Action 2007 – 2010 was launched.
New national testing commenced. Years 3, 5, 7 and for the first time, Year 9 students took part in the first National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN). This testing replaced state based assessments.
A comprehensive flexible and sustainable information management system, OneSchool, was deployed. Release One provided classroom teachers ith easy access to information about each student in their class from a centralised data source.
Work continued in partnership with industry to establish five School Industry Trade Centres to address skills shortages in sectors such as marine and allied trade, engineering, manufacturing and mining.
The first statutory TAFE institute was established. The former Southbank TAFE was transferred to a separate Statutory Authority named Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT) under the reforms made to the Vocational Education, Training and Employment Act 2000.
The Strategic Energy Management Plan to support the whole-of-Government Strategic Energy Efficiency Policy (SEEP) was developed.
The Towards a 10-year plan for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education skills in Queensland discussion paper was developed.
The Science Education Strategy 2006–2009 focused on the provision of targeted high-quality professional development for primary and secondary teachers of Science.
The first Queensland Certificate of Education was issued to Year 12 students.

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Last updated: April 2009