Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Name	Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority
Native name	ACARA
Formed	2008
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia, States and Territories
Headquarters	Sydney, New South Wales
Chief1 name	Chief Executive Officer
Parent agency	Commonwealth of Australia

Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority is an independent statutory authority established in 2008 to develop a national Australian Curriculum, implement national assessment programs and maintain national reporting through the My School website. It operates at the intersection of federal and state education arrangements, interacting with the Commonwealth of Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory. The authority's work influences teaching and learning across primary and secondary schools, linking to national initiatives such as the Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians and international frameworks like the Programme for International Student Assessment.

History

The authority was created following policy developments involving stakeholders including the Council of Australian Governments and the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs amid debates triggered by reports from bodies such as the Productivity Commission and the Australian Education Council. Its formation in 2008 followed consultations that referenced earlier curriculum reforms in New South Wales Board of Studies, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and influences from international comparators like the National Curriculum (England) and the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Early projects included national syllabuses for foundation to Year 12 learning areas, aligning with priorities set by the Council for the Australian Federation and advice from research centers including the Australian Council for Educational Research.

Functions and responsibilities

The authority's statutory functions include developing and reviewing the national curriculum for learning areas such as English language, Mathematics education, Science education, Humanities and Social Sciences, The Arts, Technologies education and Health and Physical Education, as well as cross-curriculum priorities like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, Asia and Australia's engagement with Asia and Sustainability. It administers national assessments such as the National Assessment Program — Literacy and Numeracy and the National Assessment Program — Civics and Citizenship, and oversees reporting mechanisms exemplified by the My School website and the publication of national data used by bodies including the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. The authority also commissions research from organisations such as the Australian Council for Educational Research, Grattan Institute and universities like The University of Melbourne, Monash University and University of Sydney.

Governance and structure

Governance is provided by a board appointed by federal and state ministers, reflecting arrangements involving the Commonwealth Minister for Education, state and territory education ministers and the Education Council. The internal structure includes curriculum teams, assessment divisions and corporate branches, with professional collaborations involving agencies such as the Australian Curriculum Studies Association and peak bodies like the Australian Education Union and the Australian Principals Federation. Operational leadership has included chief executives and chairs drawn from sectors linked to institutions such as Australian National University, Griffith University and statutory authorities like the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Australian Curriculum development

Curriculum development follows iterative processes entailing research, consultation and trialling with education authorities, teacher associations and peak bodies including the Australian Association for Research in Education, Australian Literacy and Numeracy Foundation and state curriculum authorities like the New South Wales Education Standards Authority. Key curriculum documents address content descriptions and achievement standards across learning areas such as English literature, Algebra, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Geography, History, Civics and Citizenship, Economics, Design and Technologies, Digital Technologies and Languages other than English. Development phases have referenced comparative frameworks from the Scottish Curriculum for Excellence, the Ontario Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate while responding to inquiries and reports from bodies such as the Australian Senate and the Productivity Commission.

Assessment and reporting programs

The authority administers the National Assessment Program, which includes NAPLAN and sample assessments aligned with international surveys like the Programme for International Student Assessment and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study. Reporting outputs include school-level data published via My School and national reports that inform ministers, research organisations and media outlets including the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and major newspapers. Assessment activities involve collaboration with measurement experts from institutions like the Australian Council for Educational Research, testing contractors and state authorities such as the New South Wales Education Standards Authority and the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority.

Controversies and criticisms

The authority has faced criticism and public debate over aspects such as curriculum content for topics like Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures, the handling of national tests including NAPLAN, and the publication of school performance data on My School, drawing responses from organisations such as the Australian Education Union, parent groups and commentators in outlets like the Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian. Critiques have referenced methodological concerns noted by research bodies including the Australian Council for Educational Research and submissions to parliamentary inquiries by groups such as the Australian Principals Federation and independent academics from universities like Deakin University and University of Western Australia. Debates have also intersected with policy discussions involving the Council of Australian Governments and reviews by ministers represented at the Education Council.

Category:Education in Australia Category:Commonwealth Government agencies of Australia