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Communications Memos and Updates

Selection of 2003 Trial Schools
Selection of 2004 Trial Schools
Professional Development
School Visits
External Evaluation

Update 2002

Selection of 2003 Trial Schools

As of 1 June 2002, 231 expressions of interest were received from schools. Following analysis of these applications, 39 State, Catholic and Independent schools were selected to commence the Preparing for School trials in 2003. On 28 August 2002, the Honorable Peter Beattie, Premier of Queensland, and the Honorable Anna Bligh, Minister for Education announced these successful schools.

The trial sites for 2003 are representative of a range of Queensland school contexts in relation to:

School size,
Preschool provision with a variety of existing on-site and off-site preschools and schools withoutcurrent preschools operating,
Multi-age programs,
Schools with Special Education Developmental Units,
Schools working in collaboration with community kindergartens.

They are representative of a range of Queensland community contexts and are inclusive of:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander students,
Indigenous Community schools,
Students for whom English is a Second Language,
Rural, remote, regional and metropolitan schools,
Different socio-economic community profiles.

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Selection of 2004 Trial Schools

State schools are invited to express interest in participating in the second round of the Preparing for School trials commencing in 2004.

An additional 20 trial sites will be identified in State schools that are reflective of the range of trial models, age cohorts and diverse Queensland school communities.

The Non-Government sector of schooling will identify an additional 5 schools to participate in round two.

The Preparing for School trials 2004 - Application Kit outlines the parameters of the trial, minimum requirements and selection criteria.

The application kit can be accessed at:
www.thepremier.qld.gov.au (new window)
Select the link titled 2004 Expressions of Interest
Follow the links to the Application Kit and Selection Criteria.

Executive Directors, Schools will sign-off on all Expressions of Interest from their respective districts. Schools should ensure that the Executive Director, Schools receives a copy of the Expression of Interest and the relevant cover sheet.

Schools that submitted an Expression of Interest in Round One and were unsuccessful will be required to notify the Early Childhood Education Unit on +61 7 3237 0949 if they wish to have their application re-activated.
Alternatively, they may wish to submit a new Expression of Interest.

Expressions of Interest (original and 2 copies plus the signed cover sheet) are to be forwarded to:
Preparing for School trials 2004
Early Childhood Education Unit
Education Queensland
Floor 9 Education House
PO Box 33
Brisbane Albert Street Q 4002

Closing Date for Expressions of Interest is 5.00pm Friday 2 May 2003.
Successful schools will be notified early in Term 3.

For further information contact the Early Childhood Education Unit on
+61 7 3237 0949

Professional Development

The 'preparatory' year teacher and a school administrator from each trial school participated in a 2 1/2-day professional development activity in October 2002. The professional development focused on exploring the draft Queensland Early Years Curriculum and school planning in the lead-up to the commencement of the trials.

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School Visits

Members of the Early Childhood Education Unit visited each trial school during 2002. During these visits, individual agreements were drawn up with the trial schools outlining resource allocations and other minimum requirements. Schools will continue to receive support from the Unit during the period of the trials.

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External Evaluation

The external evaluation of the Preparing for School trials will assist the Government to consider the following issues:

How important is extra preparation in improving 'school-readiness' and educational outcomes?
Do all, or only some, children need extra preparation?
Should extra preparation mean a full year?
Should we adjust the age at which our children start school?

The external evaluation will also focus on:

The impact of a preparatory year of schooling on the school's community and operations, pedagogy, resourcing, and children's learning, development and preparedness for formal schooling;
Key considerations of Government regarding implementation of a preparatory year;
Longitudinal monitoring of the impact of these initiatives on children's learning and development using a range of measures, including the Year 2 Diagnostic Net and the Year 3, 5 and 7 Tests.

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