1. Policy statement
   1. Curriculum planning and programming
      1. Schools plan curriculum and develop teaching programs which are consistent with the Education Act, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Education 2005, as well as the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) syllabuses and credentialing requirements, incorporating NESA's coronavirus advice.
      2. Curriculum planning and teaching programs will meet the department's Curriculum Policy Standards (PDF 201 KB).
      3. Teaching programs will incorporate assessment as an integral component.
      4. Teaching programs will indicate the outcomes being addressed, the teaching activities and the assessment strategies.
   2. Assessing
      1. Schools plan assessment so that:
         • students can demonstrate achievement of outcomes for the relevant stage of learning
         • valid and reliable assessment strategies are used
         • the timing, frequency and nature of the assessment processes are time efficient and manageable for teachers and students.
      2. Teachers plan assessment strategies when developing teaching programs and will also make additional assessment judgements during teaching and learning.
      3. Teachers use a variety of appropriate assessments for monitoring student learning, providing feedback and judging student achievement.
      4. Teachers collect and record assessment information to:
         • guide ongoing teaching and learning
         • monitor and evaluate student progress
         • report achievement to parents and relevant authorities in accord with school requirements and department policy.
   3. Reporting
      1. Throughout the school year, schools will provide parents and/or carers with formal and informal opportunities to receive information about and discuss their child's learning.
      2. The school's procedures for reporting to parents will be:
         • based on the department's policy
         • time efficient and manageable
         • developed in consultation with parents and/or carers and teachers.
      3. Schools will provide parents and/or carers with a formal report on their child's learning at least twice per year. The components of the formal report will meet the department's Curriculum Policy Standards (PDF 201 KB).
      4. Schools will provide information on how a child's achievement compares with the child's peer group at the school, on request from the child's parents and/or carers.
      5. Schools will disseminate to parents and/or carers the reports from statewide testing programs and, as appropriate, will provide opportunity for discussion between teachers and parents and/or carers.
2. Audience and applicability
   1. This policy applies to all staff employed in NSW public schools, operational directorates and department offices. The policy also applies to students attending public schools and has implications for school communities.
3. Context
   1. Provides clarity for teachers and schools in response to curriculum, assessment and reporting.
   2. Covers the requirements for reporting to parents specified by the Schools Assistance (Learning Together - Achievement Through Choice and Opportunity) Act 2004 (Cwth) and Regulations to the legislation, 2005 and 2013.
   3. This policy will change in response to the curriculum reform as the NSW Department of Education supports teachers to implement and teach the new curriculum.
4. Responsibilities and delegations
   1. Principals, school executive and delegated teachers:
      1. supervise the implementation of the policy in schools, reporting their evaluations to their Director, Educational Leadership.
   2. Directors, Educational Leadership:
      1. monitor and support the implementation of the policy in schools and report to their Executive Directors.
   3. Executive Directors:
      1. collect information to inform the Directors, Curriculum Early Years and Primary Learners and Curriculum Secondary Learners for evaluation of the policy.
   4. The Leader, Primary Curriculum and the Leader, Secondary Curriculum:
      1. provide advice on interpreting and implementing this policy.
   5. The Directors, Curriculum Early Years and Primary Learners, and Curriculum Secondary Learners:
      1. ensure the currency of this policy and support material
      2. provide oversight of the policy and implementation including advice and assistance to curriculum support staff on policy development, implementation and evaluation
      3. notify staff of changes to the policy
      4. monitor the evaluation of this policy and will report annually, or as required, to the Executive Director, Curriculum and Reform.
5. Monitoring and review
   1. The Executive Director, Curriculum and Reform monitors the implementation of this policy, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.
6. Contact

Leader, Primary Curriculum
EarlyLearningPrimaryLearnersUnit@det.nsw.edu.au
02 7814 2807

Leader, Secondary Curriculum
SecondaryEducationUnit@det.nsw.edu.au
02 7814 3293