No. 03-21, 19 February 2021 | DOWNLOAD PDF

To QTU Members

What’s all the fuss about data?
 

Revised Data Joint Statement released

As part of the workload reviews last year, the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU) negotiated changes to the Data Joint Statement with the Department of Education (DoE).

These negotiations included a review of the additional workload caused by creating and updating data walls. Consequently, the revised Data Joint Statement requires that the use of data displays will be determined at the local level through consultation, including via the Local Consultative Committee (LCC) in schools required to have one. Under the Data Joint Statement, data walls can be fixed, temporary, digital and interactive, however, data displays must be both purposeful and ethical. Most importantly, if the LCC agrees that data may be presented in a digital or interactive data display, workload for members will be reduced. 

This week the department is launching the Data Literacy Framework, as a support for using data to inform practice. The revised Data Joint Statement is on the QTU website and is now available from the department’s OnePortal page for regions and schools. The support materials for school data plans, including the mandatory data sets (the data sets relating to teaching and learning that are required to be collected by the DoE) will also be made available through a new data-informed, practice OnePortal page this week.

A series of communications about the revised Data Joint Statement, the mandatory data sets, and the data literacy framework, and how they work together will be shared throughout this month.

Members are encouraged to become familiar with the updated advice about school data plans during 2021, with a view to full implementation in 2022.

In the future, a school’s data plan will be reviewed annually in consultation with teachers and the LCC so that it accurately reflects the intended use of data within the school for that year. 

It is not expected that schools will align to the updated Data Joint Statement immediately. Members in schools will be able to commence consultation and revise their existing school data plans by the start of 2022. However, if your school does not have a data plan (or it is in the process of being reviewed), the release of the revised Data Joint Statement provides an excellent opportunity to include the purpose and use of data on the schools next LCC agenda.

Mandatory Data Sets

The Data Literacy Framework identifies the data sets that schools are required by the Department of Education to complete.

These include student achievement data, student wellbeing data and community data.

A full list of these data sets can be found by accessing the Data Literacy Framework. It is essential that these data sets are included in a school’s data plan.

Workload resources 

Following the finalisation of workload reviews in Term 3 2020, the QTU collaborated with the department to develop an easy reference poster that unpacks the Joint Statement that was released by the Minister in October last year. This document can be provided by your QTU Organiser or accessed on the QTU website.

To support the implementation of workload reviews and the work being undertaken to reduce workload, the QTU has also provided a resource that can be used in workplace and other meetings. These resources are also being used at branch meetings.

As discussions continue at the Workload Advisory Council (WAC), the QTU will provide additional resources that will assist in addressing workload concerns.

Student with Disability resourcing

The QTU has been informed that schools/Special Education Programs (SEPs) should have their 2021 Student with Disability (SWD) staffing confirmed on or before 19 February.

The QTU has been made aware of some schools incorrectly allocating SWD staff to ineligible students and encourages all members to ensure that SWD staffing is only allocated to assist the education of SWD. 

QTU members concerned about the level of SWD resourcing for their school should consider the following advice: 

• QTU Reps/members should try to ensure that all the SWD full time equivalent (FTE) and teacher aide hours have been allocated to SWDs. They should seek confirmation from their school leadership team.
• QTU Reps/members should try to confirm that the SWD loading of Invest 4 Success funding has been allocated to SWDs.
• Any school requiring additional SWD staffing should take up the matter with the region in the first instance. Each region has a three per cent contingency fund and this can be used to allocate additional resourcing where a school/SEP puts up a reasonable case. If the school approach is unsuccessful, QTU Reps should contact their Regional Organiser for further advice.
• If a region won’t allocate additional resourcing, the QTU will raise the issue with central office of the DoE.
• If no additional allocation is made by the region or central office, members may be requested to consider planning a mini-campaign or meeting to seek a directive.
   

Senior assessment and tertiary entrance post cycle review

Earlier in the week, the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) sent information to Principals regarding a post cycle review to occur in Term 1 2021, relating to the first year of implementation of the new QCE, senior assessment and tertiary entrance processes. In 2020, we received significant feedback from you. This feedback was communicated to the QCAA in a variety of ways, including at Board level. We also called for a post cycle review to be conducted. This review aims to identify the strengths, concerns and opportunities for improvement.

The QCAA will convene a series of focus groups with teachers and community members who performed some of the key school coordination and quality assurance roles in the new system. These include:

• external assessment coordinators
• external assessment invigilators
• endorsement submitters and approvers
• confirmation submitters and approvers.

Invitations will be sent to a representative sample of teachers to ensure engagement with an appropriate cross-section of the workforce. 

There will be other opportunities for schools to inform the review. The focus groups will be complemented by more surveys and an opportunity to provide whole-of-school perspectives on the operation of the new system in 2019 and 2020.

 Authorised by Kate Ruttiman, General Secretary, Queensland Teachers' Union
21 Graham Street, Milton, QLD, Australia, 4064