Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...

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7098 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009 • NSW Nanotechnology Policy Co-ordination • Screen NSW Board • Board of Tourism NSW • Tourism Planning & Investment Taskforce • Tourism & Education Taskforce • New South Wales Innovation Council • Regional Development Australia committees • Small Business Development Corporation of New South Wales *7489 SCHOOL LEARNING SUPPORT PROGRAM—Mr Richard Torbay asked the Minister for Education and Training, and Minister for Women— (1) Will parents be better informed and consulted regarding how the proposed new School Learning Support Program will affect those students with mild disability and learning needs entitled to up to $6000 support under the current system? (2) What are the reasons for the proposed changes and will these students still receive support in mainstream classes at the same, or a higher, level than under the current system? (3) (a) How will the proposal to replace itinerant specialist teachers with generalist teachers based in schools produce better outcomes for students? (b) Will students still have access to specialist expertise if that is considered necessary? (c) How does the department propose to train the decision makers necessary under the proposed model to the level of competence that professionals have acquired over 5-10 years of education, training and experience, which is the basis of the current model? (4) How will the Department of Education deal with students moving schools and guarantee each student will receive the same level of support they received in the previous school, particularly in circumstances where they move to a school with an enrolment of less than 160, from a school where the enrolment is greater than 160? (5) Under the proposed model, how will the Department of Education maintain accountability to the various stakeholders including parents and students? Answer— (1) The proposed School Learning Support Program is currently the subject of consultation with key groups including principals, parents, advocacy groups and unions which will continue until the middle of 2010, while the proposal is trialled in two regions. An evaluation of the existing School Learning Support Coordinator initiative is also currently underway. The Department of Education and Training aims to provide all parents with comprehensive information about the proposed model. No decision about the future of this proposal will be made until the consultations, trials and evaluation are finalised. (2) The aim of the proposed new program is to establish a specialist teacher presence in every school across the state to provide greater in-school support to students with additional learning needs and their class teachers. (3) (a) The proposal does not seek to replace specialist teachers with generalist teachers but to place specialist itinerant teachers directly in schools. The proposed model will give school principals increased flexibility to use available resources to support the additional learning needs of students. (b) Yes. (c) Principals are responsible for leading decision making in schools. They have high levels of expertise and are supported by school education directors. This proposal supports principals by providing access to high quality professional learning for School Learning Support Teachers. (4) Under the proposed model, resources would be allocated directly to schools using a fair allocation formula that takes into account school enrolments and student learning need. As a result, a student enrolling with additional learning needs will have access to support in every school without requiring confirmation of a disability and without delay through administrative processes. (5) The Department has a range of accountability mechanisms in place that will continue under the proposed model. The progress of all students is monitored by the classroom teacher and reported to parents in accordance with the Department's Curriculum planning and programming, assessing and reporting K-12 policy. Parents and carers receive a plain English report of each student's progress twice a year. Produced by Altsoft Xml2PDF
7099 LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS MONDAY 12 OCTOBER 2009 Every public school has a learning support team which addresses the learning needs of students through the coordination, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of education programs in the school. Every school produces an annual school report for the school community which provides a snap shot of the school's national testing results compared with state and like school group performance. *7490 COMPETITIVE GOVERNMENT SECTOR—Mr John Turner asked the Minister for Finance, Minister for Infrastructure, Minister for Regulatory Reform, and Minister for Ports and Waterways representing the Treasurer— In the 2009-2010 State Budget an amount of $11,513,000 was allocated to the Myall Lakes electorate under the heading "Competitive Government Sector": What specifically will these funds be used for in the Myall Lakes electorate? Answer— I'm advised: Country Energy and Transgrid will be spending a total of $11,513,000 on electricity distribution and transmission projects in Myall Lakes. These agencies operate in competition with other agencies including those from interstate. Their individual project details are considered commercial in confidence and are not disclosed. A brief summary of their capital program is covered in Chapter 3 of 2009-10 Budget Paper 4 titled Infrastructure Statement. *7491 TENDERS FOR BULAHDELAH BYPASS—Mr John Turner asked the Minister for Roads— With reference to the Minister's statement that tenders for the main construction contract for the Bulahdelah bypass were expected to be called for in July of this year (Question 6671): (1) Have tenders been called? (2) If so, have they closed? (3) If so, has any tender been accepted? (4) If so, what are the terms of that tender including the cost of work and date for completion? (5) What is the targeted completion date for the Bulahdelah bypass in the tender documents? Answer— I am advised that tenders for the main construction contract of the Bulahdelah bypass are expected to be called for in October 2009. *7492 NOISY MOTOR VEHICLE EXHAUSTS—Mr Ray Williams asked the Deputy Premier, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, and Minister for Commerce— (1) Does the Government require two separate reports of noisy motor vehicle exhausts to act on complaints of excessive noise? (2) What promotion of the reporting system for exhausts causing excessive noise does the Government undertake? (3) In terms of noise pollution from motor vehicles, is the overall noise a car generates considered or is it related solely to extra noise generated by modifications to engines? (4) How many infringements have been issued for exhausts causing excessive noise since the commencement of Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2008 based on two separate complaints? (5) How many infringements have been issued for exhausts causing excessive noise since the commencement of Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2008 based on observations from Government staff? (6) Are the designs of exhaust systems at the point of sale or fitment monitored and⁄or checked to ensure compliance with noise legislation? Answer— (1) No. The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water investigates all reports of noisy vehicles. Reports submitted by a Department authorised officer or a NSW Police officer results in a Vehicle Inspection Notice being issued to the owner. This requires the vehicle to be taken to an approved facility for testing and inspection. If problems are found with the vehicle, they must be rectified in order for the vehicle to comply with the Protection of the Environment Operations (Noise Control) Regulation 2008. (2) The Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water encourages the public to report Produced by Altsoft Xml2PDF
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Questions & Answers Paper No. 158 - Parliament of New South ...

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