Literacy and Numeracy
The Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership aims to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students, particularly those in need. It focuses on three main priority reform areas:
- Effective and evidence based teaching of literacy and numeracy
- Monitoring student and school literacy and numeracy performance to identify where support is needed and;
- Strong school leadership and whole school engagement with literacy and numeracy.
The Australian Government will contribute up to $4.466 million for this effort.
Scope of reform
- Effective and evidence based teaching of literacy and numeracy
- Monitoring student and school literacy and numeracy performance to identify where support is needed
- Strong school leadership and whole school engagement with literacy and numeracy.
Eligibility
19 schools (pdf 49 kb) took part in phase one (2009/2010) of the Maximising Improvements in Literacy and Numeracy (MILaN) initiative. A revised group of 22 schools (pdf 49 kb) have been selected to take part in the phase two (2010/2011) MILaN initiative. 5 of the 22 phase two MILaN school group are also participating in the Engaging Urban Students (EUS) initiative under the Low Socio-Economic Status School Communities National Partnership.
MILaN schools are provided with resourcing to implement site specific evidence based strategies to accelerate improvement in student outcomes as part of the Literacy and Numeracy National Partnership. MILaN schools have the opportunity to share their strategies, challenges and successes with other MILaN schools both informally and through facilitated networking sessions.
In 2010/11 themed networking sessions will focus on:
- the use of performance data to improve target setting
- selecting evidence based practices to support identified student needs
- assessing, monitoring and reviewing student performance using diagnostic tools.
The MILaN effort compliments a number of system and regional-specific reforms being implemented to support schools across the system. All 113 schools participating in the Low Socio-Economic Status School Communities and Closing the Gap National Partnerships are also focusing effort on literacy and numeracy improvement.
Reform Strategy
Improving outcomes in literacy and numeracy will be an integrated effort across the National Partnerships for Literacy and Numeracy, Low SES Status School Communities, and Closing the Gap (Enhancing Education).
The Northern Territory Literacy and Numeracy Taskforce will lead this reform which will involve intensive site-based effort complemented by regional/sectoral and system initiatives to support sustained and accelerated improvement and will involve alignment of complementary activity within the Northern Territory education system.
Key Initiatives
In summary, the Literacy and Numeracy effort under the Smarter Schools National Partnerships involves:
Reward
Reward funding will be available to the Northern Territory following the achievement of agreed literacy and numeracy targets. This funding will be directed to initiatives to support sustained improvement in literacy and numeracy outcomes.