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TO:ALL PRINCIPALS

copies:ALL reGIONAL EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SCHOOLS

all executive directors schools

FROM:ASSISTANT DIRECTOR-GENERAL – STUDENT SERVICES

SUBJECT:revised implementation of validation process - education adjustment programFOR 2007

PURPOSE

  1. To provide information on the implementation of the adjusted validation process of the Education Adjustment Program (EAP) for 2007.

BACKGROUND

  1. Validation was introduced in 2006 as a key facet of the quality assurance process for the Education Adjustment Program (EAP) for students with disabilities.
  2. Validation quality assures the accuracy of adjustments recorded in the Education Adjustment Program Profiles and the Beginning School Profiles (BSP) through the presentation by schools of relevant curriculum documentation. This includes non state schools where students in the areas of hearing impairment, physical impairment and vision impairment are accessing support services provided by the Department.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DATE?

  1. During 2006, 585 validations were completed across the state. The sample (9.6% of students with EAP Profiles at June 2006) was representative across disability categories, school sectors and districts.
  2. Twelve Statewide Validators with professional expertise in planning, delivering and monitoring educational services for students with disabilities were appointed across the state.
  3. During 2006, all validations required schools to collate documents and send them to the Statewide Validator who processed these as desk validations. Validators were not assigned to specific geographic areas and worked closely with school personnel throughout the process via teleconference mode.

HOW IS THE VALIDATION PROCESS BEING ADJUSTED FOR 2007?

  1. The feedback from 2006 clearly indicates the need to change specific facets of the validation process. Central to the feedback and closely aligned to the changes to the 2007 validation process is the intent to enhance the professional learning of class teachers and other school staff with the delivery of educational programs for students with disabilities.
  2. Working closely with district and regional staff will help school staff better understand the EAP profiles and the development of documentary evidence that support the submitted profiles.
  3. As a result of feedback and a review of the 2006 validation process a number of changes will be implemented for 2007.
  4. The validation process will incorporate a panel approach consisting of the class teachers/case manager of the student whose profile is being validated.
  5. Statewide validators will be responsible for facilitating the validation process within their assigned regions.
  6. Regions will have a more significant role with the management and implementation of the validation process.
  7. The provision of school curriculum documentation is still central to the validation process.
  8. The active participation of class teachers/student case managers in the validation process will significantly contribute to enhancing the professional skill base of our schooling workforce.

HOW WILL IT AFFECT SCHOOLS?

  1. The following changes will be implemented for the validation process in 2007 (Refer to Attachment 1 for a 2006-2007 comparison of the validation process).
  2. The 12 Statewide Validators will have responsibility for a designated region. In some cases, due to the size of a region, a Statewide Validator may be required to work across two regions. Attachment 2 details the proposed distribution of Statewide Validators across the regions. Allocations to regions were based on the number of students with disabilities.
  3. The validation process will provide further support for school staff in understanding the validation process and the EAP Profiles by having a designated school administration team member nominated as the Validation Contact (VC) in each school or cluster of schools.
  4. The Validation Contact will be specifically trained in the Validation Process and will train and support school staff during validations at the school. A training package will be provided to the VCs. Where required, TRS (Teacher Relief Scheme) funds will be provided to release these staff members to attend training sessions. The VC will be a link with the Statewide Validator throughout the validation process.

Validation Day

  1. The class teacher/case manager will be directly involved in the validation process during a locally negotiated scheduled validation day. The class teacher/case manager is a school staff member who is integral to the program delivery for the student.
  2. The Statewide Validator will facilitate a group of six class teachers/case managers working in groups of three (a panel) to consider three document sets (not from their school). TRS will be provided for teachers to attend the validation day.
  3. Schools will be contacted by their relevant Statewide Validator when a student’s profile from the school has been selected for validation. The validation day will occur 3 weeks later. Hence, schools will have 3 weeks to gather and collate the supporting documentation.
  4. During the validation day, teachers will have the opportunity to:
  5. work as a panel member with two other teachers to consider three document sets (not from their schools)
  6. participate in informal learning opportunities through the day
  7. complete a comparative ranking of the three document sets
  8. compare the documents submitted against ‘descriptors’ (groups of items that cluster together) for a maximum of two Focus Areas
  9. share professional learning at the end of the day
  10. Roles and responsibilities for the 2007 validation process are detailed on Attachment 3.
  11. Resources will be allocated to regions to support the validation process. Specifically, costs associated with:

-The training of local Validation Contact officers (TRS and travel costs as required);

-The release of teachers/student case managers to participate in the validation day (TRS and associated travel costs as required);

-Maintaining the skills of the local Validation Contact officers; and

-Non-salary expenses associated with the implementation of the validation days.

  1. If you have any questions in relation to this initiative, please contact Meredith Kilminster (Manager for Validation - EAP) on telephone (07) 32370162 or email
  2. Thank you for your support for and assistance with this important process.

Regards

KEN ROGERS

Assistant Director-General - Student Services

Education Queensland