❓ Hon. Kate Doust asks about attendance panels, triggering levels of non-attendance, school choice in convening panels, and expected increase in panels in 2015. The Minister provides clarification on the Act, school autonomy, and resourcing.
AnsweredQoN 607Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
SCHOOLS —
NON-ATTENDANCE
607. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for Education:
I refer to
attendance panels convened to address non-attendance at school.
(1) What level of
non-attendance triggers the convening of an attendance panel?
(2) Do schools have a choice as to whether
they convene the panel or request their regional office to convene attendance
panels; and, if so, which schools are able to choose to request that the
regional office convene the panel?
(3) Does the minister expect that more
attendance panels will be convened in 2015 than in previous years; and, if so,
how will these panels be resourced?
NON-ATTENDANCE
607. Hon KATE DOUST to the Minister for Education:
I refer to
attendance panels convened to address non-attendance at school.
(1) What level of
non-attendance triggers the convening of an attendance panel?
(2) Do schools have a choice as to whether
they convene the panel or request their regional office to convene attendance
panels; and, if so, which schools are able to choose to request that the
regional office convene the panel?
(3) Does the minister expect that more
attendance panels will be convened in 2015 than in previous years; and, if so,
how will these panels be resourced?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of this question
(1) The School Education Act 1999 states
that where a child of compulsory school age has been persistently absent—in
breach of section 23, which refers to attendance requirements—that
child's case may be referred to an attendance panel. Neither the act
nor the department's policy specifies a minimum or maximum number of
non-attendance days as being a catalyst for convening a panel. Principals take
into account the reasons for absences and the impact of these absences on the
student's outcomes when making their determination.
(2) Independent public school principals
have a choice. They are authorised to either convene their own attendance
panels or request that the regional executive director convenes it. Attendance
panels for non‑independent public schools must be convened by the
regional executive director.
(3) The department's ''Focus
2015: Directions for schools'' includes a clear directive for all
schools to ensure parents of all students in the severe non-attendance category
are offered, and are supported to participate in, student attendance panels
involving family and community. Attendance panels are a core function of the
School Education Act 1999. All schools may allocate resourcing from the student‑centred
funding model to implement attendance strategies for students with the greatest
need.
honourable member for some notice of this question
(1) The School Education Act 1999 states
that where a child of compulsory school age has been persistently absent—in
breach of section 23, which refers to attendance requirements—that
child's case may be referred to an attendance panel. Neither the act
nor the department's policy specifies a minimum or maximum number of
non-attendance days as being a catalyst for convening a panel. Principals take
into account the reasons for absences and the impact of these absences on the
student's outcomes when making their determination.
(2) Independent public school principals
have a choice. They are authorised to either convene their own attendance
panels or request that the regional executive director convenes it. Attendance
panels for non‑independent public schools must be convened by the
regional executive director.
(3) The department's ''Focus
2015: Directions for schools'' includes a clear directive for all
schools to ensure parents of all students in the severe non-attendance category
are offered, and are supported to participate in, student attendance panels
involving family and community. Attendance panels are a core function of the
School Education Act 1999. All schools may allocate resourcing from the student‑centred
funding model to implement attendance strategies for students with the greatest
need.
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