Researchers to monitor reform initiatives in Queensland schools

The Department of Education, Training and the Arts recognises the importance of research that explores current practice to inform future policy decisions and ensure a quality education for all Queenslanders. To this end, the department has engaged a research team from the School of Education and Social Science Research Centre, The University of Queensland, to undertake two projects which are designed to begin a process of monitoring the impact of school reform initiatives on teaching practice and student learning outcomes across time.

One of these projects will specifically focus on current initiatives in Queensland schools such as the Queensland Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Framework. The second will take a broader approach to gather data which examines classroom practice and its relationship to student outcomes during the middle school years in Queensland State schools. Data collection for these two studies will include surveys of teachers, parents, and students, follow-up interviews and focus groups, and observations of classroom practice. The chief investigators, Associate Professor Martin Mills and Associate Professor Merrilyn Goos have previous experience in conducting research in the Queensland State schooling system, for example, Associate Professor Martin Mills was a project leader of the Queensland School Reform Longitudinal Study (QSRLS) conducted in 1998 through to 2000.

A representative group of 110 State schools and 24 non-state schools will be invited to participate in the two projects. These schools will be selected based on a range of geographical locations, socioeconomic profiles, and school size and structure. A subsample of these schools will also be asked to participate in interviews and classroom observations. School leaders will be approached directly by the research team over the coming months seeking consent for school involvement in the research. While participation in the research is voluntary, those schools choosing to take part will be making a significant contribution to the development of current and future evidence-based reforms.

This is an exciting opportunity for schools to be involved in research of significant value to Queensland education policy and practice. The Director-General for the Department of Education, Training and the Arts, Rachel Hunter, has encouraged schools to participate in the projects. "We need to identify, build on and share practices that provide the best outcomes for our students. This research will provide us with a sound base for monitoring progress and understanding what works. I encourage school communities to work with the researchers to contribute to these important research initiatives ".

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