Evaluator company/business: Victoria University, Centre for International Research on Education Systems

Year: 2015

URL or PDF: Download the Low SES School Communities Smarter Schools National Partnership - Evaluation of staffing, management and accountability initiatives final report (PDF, 1.38MB).

Summary: This report investigates the implementation, effectiveness and sustainability of initiatives within five reform areas of the Low SES School Communities National Partnership (Low SES NP) dealing with school staffing, management and accountability. A key question for the evaluation is whether or not participation in the Low SES NP has helped improve the education and life opportunities of students from low SES backgrounds through improvements in student outcomes. To examine this question, a range of analyses were undertaken using available data, including NAPLAN results. The analysis suggests that there has been some impact from the Low SES NP and affirms some of the positive responses found in both principal and staff surveys on effects of the program, including in areas of student outcomes.