Published Monday, 02 July, 2007 at 02:37 PM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Education and Training and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Rod Welford
GOVERNMENT’S COMMITMENT TO POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR ENDORSED
As Queensland school students enjoy their Winter break, Premier Peter Beattie today released an update on the Government’s initiative to maintain high standards in Smart State schools.
Mr Beattie said an independent report by the University of Queensland had evaluated the Government’s plans to support good behaviour as appropriate.
“In 2004-05 the Government invested $25 million to support Queensland teachers dealing with students’ behaviour in the classroom,” Mr Beattie said.
“We commissioned the University of Queensland last year to evaluate the effectiveness of the Government’s strategies and to identify areas where further improvements could be made.
“It was an extensive study that surveyed more than 900 principals and staff.
“The report found ‘the Queensland Government had responded appropriately to the needs of schools and the general community’ in terms of support for students with behaviour problems to create a more positive attitude to learning.
“It also identified a number of areas where further improvements could be made and proposed some future directions to Government.
“In direct response to the independent report, a comprehensive State-wide Behaviour Action Plan was developed and is being implemented to ensure we continue to make improvements to systems to support positive learning.
“For example, the report found wide agreement amongst respondents about the need for further support and more specialist personnel.
“More than $29 million has been committed in the 2007-08 Budget, and a total of 21 full-time equivalent (FTE) behaviour experts have been employed since 2005-06, taking the total of specialist personnel to 321 FTEs across the state.
“The report also identified the need for a more multi-dimensional response to behaviour issues to incorporate the individual needs of students with best practice management models.
“In direct response, 10 Guidance Officers have been appointed to support the regional delivery and coordination of services to students and families with the highest support needs, and the Government’s School Wide Positive Behaviour Support program - which is designed to improve social and academic outcomes for students - has been expanded from 69 schools in 2006 to 113 schools this year,” he said.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said many new initiatives had been introduced across key areas since the evaluation.
“Last year I introduced a new Code of School Behaviour to ensure a more consistent approach to discipline across all state schools,” Mr Welford said.
“Based on the Code, state schools this year have developed individual Responsible Behaviour Plans, which acknowledge the fact that localised responses to discipline work best when developed in partnership with parents and teachers.
“We’ve also put a renewed focus on professional development for teachers in the area of classroom management.
“We have also developed a Better Behaviour, Better Learning online course, allowing staff to access the training from anywhere across Queensland.
“We are also implementing further professional development packages, such as Essential Skills for Classroom Management and the Better Behaviour, Better Learning Professional Development Suite to support teachers, teacher aides and specialist staff in daily practice.”
Mr Welford said an additional nine Positive Learning Centres, bringing the total to 14, had also been created across the state to provide assistance to students who found the school environment more challenging than others.
“This evaluation has helped inform us where assistance is needed most and we will continue to make improvements to our behaviour management support strategies,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the report recognised that maintaining high standards across a diverse student population was complex and challenging, but that Queensland teachers and behaviour specialists were rising to the challenge.
“Teaching is a challenging profession at the best times, let alone when dealing with difficult students from a variety of backgrounds.
“This report highlighted the excellent work Queensland teachers and specialised staff are doing in this complex and challenging area and I commend them for their ongoing efforts to make a difference in these young Queenslanders’ lives.
“The Government remains committed to this program and will continue to work towards improving resources and support for Queensland schools to ensure behaviour issues do not impede positive learning opportunities and interests,” he said.
ENDS
Monday, 2 July 2007
Media Inquiries:
Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Welford’s office – 3235 4593
Mr Beattie said an independent report by the University of Queensland had evaluated the Government’s plans to support good behaviour as appropriate.
“In 2004-05 the Government invested $25 million to support Queensland teachers dealing with students’ behaviour in the classroom,” Mr Beattie said.
“We commissioned the University of Queensland last year to evaluate the effectiveness of the Government’s strategies and to identify areas where further improvements could be made.
“It was an extensive study that surveyed more than 900 principals and staff.
“The report found ‘the Queensland Government had responded appropriately to the needs of schools and the general community’ in terms of support for students with behaviour problems to create a more positive attitude to learning.
“It also identified a number of areas where further improvements could be made and proposed some future directions to Government.
“In direct response to the independent report, a comprehensive State-wide Behaviour Action Plan was developed and is being implemented to ensure we continue to make improvements to systems to support positive learning.
“For example, the report found wide agreement amongst respondents about the need for further support and more specialist personnel.
“More than $29 million has been committed in the 2007-08 Budget, and a total of 21 full-time equivalent (FTE) behaviour experts have been employed since 2005-06, taking the total of specialist personnel to 321 FTEs across the state.
“The report also identified the need for a more multi-dimensional response to behaviour issues to incorporate the individual needs of students with best practice management models.
“In direct response, 10 Guidance Officers have been appointed to support the regional delivery and coordination of services to students and families with the highest support needs, and the Government’s School Wide Positive Behaviour Support program - which is designed to improve social and academic outcomes for students - has been expanded from 69 schools in 2006 to 113 schools this year,” he said.
Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said many new initiatives had been introduced across key areas since the evaluation.
“Last year I introduced a new Code of School Behaviour to ensure a more consistent approach to discipline across all state schools,” Mr Welford said.
“Based on the Code, state schools this year have developed individual Responsible Behaviour Plans, which acknowledge the fact that localised responses to discipline work best when developed in partnership with parents and teachers.
“We’ve also put a renewed focus on professional development for teachers in the area of classroom management.
“We have also developed a Better Behaviour, Better Learning online course, allowing staff to access the training from anywhere across Queensland.
“We are also implementing further professional development packages, such as Essential Skills for Classroom Management and the Better Behaviour, Better Learning Professional Development Suite to support teachers, teacher aides and specialist staff in daily practice.”
Mr Welford said an additional nine Positive Learning Centres, bringing the total to 14, had also been created across the state to provide assistance to students who found the school environment more challenging than others.
“This evaluation has helped inform us where assistance is needed most and we will continue to make improvements to our behaviour management support strategies,” he said.
Mr Beattie said the report recognised that maintaining high standards across a diverse student population was complex and challenging, but that Queensland teachers and behaviour specialists were rising to the challenge.
“Teaching is a challenging profession at the best times, let alone when dealing with difficult students from a variety of backgrounds.
“This report highlighted the excellent work Queensland teachers and specialised staff are doing in this complex and challenging area and I commend them for their ongoing efforts to make a difference in these young Queenslanders’ lives.
“The Government remains committed to this program and will continue to work towards improving resources and support for Queensland schools to ensure behaviour issues do not impede positive learning opportunities and interests,” he said.
ENDS
Monday, 2 July 2007
Media Inquiries:
Premier’s Office 3224 4500
Minister Welford’s office – 3235 4593