AITSL – Certification and Teacher Performance and Development Released

AITSL – Certification and Teacher Performance and Development Released

QATA recently received an email from Margery Evans, Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) containing information regarding the release of the Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers: Principles and processes and the release of the draft Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework for national consultation.

Fact Sheet – Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers

Fact Sheet – Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework

Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers – Principles and processes – April 2012

Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework – Consultation proposal – April 2012

Read an excerpt from Margery’s email below:

Subject: AITSL – Certification and Teacher Performance and Development Released!

I am pleased to write to you following the endorsement of the Certification of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers: Principles and processes.   The proposal was endorsed by Education Ministers on 20 April 2012 at the meeting of the Standing Council for School Education and Early Childhood (SCSEEC). This is another pivotal achievement in Australian education and is a step forward in our teacher quality strategy.

Certification at the higher career stages, underpinned by the National Professional Standards for Teachers, enhances the professionalism of teachers, enabling them to gain recognition for the quality of their teaching while remaining in the classroom.

The development of the certification principles and processes involved an extensive national process drawing on research, national and international expert advisors, analysis of existing practices across Australia, and consultation with teacher employers, regulatory authorities, national, state and territory peak bodies, and practicing teachers and school leaders

Another significant step in the teacher quality agenda is the release of the draft Australian Teacher Performance and Development Framework for national consultation.  The Framework will ensure that every teacher, every year, in every school receives regular, appropriate and constructive feedback on their performance, opportunities to identify areas for development, as well as effective and ongoing support to further improve their practice.

The draft Framework has been developed based on research, national mapping and analysis of existing practices, and advice from national and international experts.  Following further national consultation and refinement the Framework will be presented to Ministers for endorsement at the Standing Council on 3 August 2012.

Support and training materials will be developed in collaboration and consultation with education stakeholders during 2012 and be available to support national implementation in 2013.

I have attached the final version of the agreed documentation (below).  Accompanying this communication are Fact Sheets that can be disseminated to teachers, school leaders and other education stakeholders to provide information and raise awareness.  A hard copy of all documentation will follow in the post.  More information can be found at http://www.aitsl.edu.au .

We are committed to improving the quality of teaching in our schools and to recognising, celebrating and sharing quality teaching practice.  We look forward to our continued work with you on developing and implementing these important initiatives.

Margery Evans
Chief Executive Officer
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL)