Today the Prime Minister and the Minister for Education officially launched National Literacy and Numeracy Week 2008 by announcing a $40 million literacy and numeracy initiative.
The Rudd Government will invest $40.2 million in 29 literacy and numeracy pilot projects in schools across Australia.
These pilots will trial or expand initiatives that exemplify strategies to improve literacy and numeracy outcomes for those students most in need of support, in government and non-government schools.
Pilots were selected because they focus on reforms that will deliver sustained improvements in literacy and numeracy for students, particularly for low SES, Indigenous or disadvantaged students.
Government, Independent and Catholic education authorities were invited to submit proposals for pilot programs by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in June 2008.
This funding is available from 2008 and will support pilots for up to two years and negotiations with successful education authorities will be finalised this month.
Getting the basics right at school is fundamental to helping all Australian students reach their full potential.
These pilot programs will guide literacy and numeracy reform by developing and sharing an evidence-base of what works.
National Literacy and Numeracy Week is an Australian Government initiative that runs from 1-7 September which aims to raise community awareness of the importance of developing effective literacy and numeracy skills for all Australians.
For further information about National Literacy and Numeracy Week activities visit: http://www.literacyandnumeracy.gov.au
The full list of National Literacy and Numeracy pilot programs is at: http://www.deewr.gov.au/literacyandnumeracy
Literacy and Numeracy Pilots Funded Proposals
|
Name of Proposal |
State/ Territory |
Sector |
Recommended Funding |
Summary |
|
Narrowing the Gap in Numeracy: QuickSmart |
NSW |
Catholic |
$832,820 |
This pilot with the NSW Catholic Education Office will utilise QuickSmart, an evidence based program that helps students' use of numeracy strategies and recall of basic facts in mathematics. It will target Indigenous students in 13 low SES primary schools in the Diocese of Lismore and Armidale. |
|
Successful Language Learners: Whole-school ESL language and literacy practices |
NSW |
Government and Catholic |
$3,566,566 |
This pilot is a joint NSW Government and Catholic sector initiative to raise the English language, literacy and numeracy performance of students through targeted student support; investment in lifting teacher capacity; quality teaching; second language acquisition; school leadership and community/parental engagement. The pilot will target 12 cross sectoral schools in Sydney. |
|
Leading Aligned Numeracy Development (LAND) |
NT |
Catholic |
$464,850 |
This pilot with the Northern Territory Catholic Education Office will inform education authorities about key teaching and learning characteristics, system design principles, and leadership factors necessary to effect transformation in student achievement in numeracy. It will target Indigenous primary students in five schools in remote locations across the Northern Territory. |
|
Strong Literacy and Numeracy in Communities |
NT |
Government |
$2,283,500 |
This pilot with the Northern Territory Government will improve literacy and numeracy through whole school leaderhip and support. It will support young Indigenous children from infancy and through their early years of primary education in six primary schools in the Miwatj and Walpiri Triangle Communities. |
|
"Let's Stay Put" for Literacy and Numeracy Learning |
QLD |
Government |
$2,410,000 |
This pilot with the Queensland Department of Education will assist highly mobile low SES Indigenous students in urban areas through individual learning plans to track each student’s progress and learning needs from school to school. It will target schools across Central and Northern Queensland. |
|
Closing the Gap: Students Experiencing Success (SES) in Mathematics |
QLD |
Catholic |
$313,992 |
This pilot with the Queensland Catholic Education Office will enhance literacy and numeracy development for Indigenous students in the early years of schooling through building oral language capacity. This pilot targets 10 Schools in the Cairns, Rockhampton and Toowoomba Dioceses. |
|
Leading Indigenous Literacy - First Steps |
QLD |
Catholic |
$212,800 |
This pilot with the Queensland Catholic Education Office will support individualised literacy and language learning for the Indigenous students in P-7 at Palm Island and Years 8-9 at Abergowrie. |
|
Literacy and Numeracy Training Program and Support Materials for Foster Carers |
QLD |
Government |
$1,410,000 |
This pilot with the Queensland Department of Education will assist primary school children in the care of the State through extending the capacity of foster carers. It supports Indigenous and low SES students. It includes the Ipswich and Western Child Safety Zone and Logan and Brisbane West Child Safety Zone. |