8. Hon TREVOR MALLARD (Labour—Hutt South) to the Minister of Education: Does she understand the asTTle reporting system and the process leading to it?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY (Minister of Education) : I would not claim to have an understanding on a par with that of Professor Hattie, but I understand the core elements.

Hon Trevor Mallard: What is the difference between the national standardisation used by asTTle and the standardisation required by her national standards?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am advised that asTTle is set to population norms. National standards are nationally consistent benchmarks that set clear expectations about achievement and progress, and are aligned to ensure that students are on track to achieve National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) level 2. I am advised that in some cases the national standards expectations are above current norms. We have set these national standards at this level to ensure that all of our students are able to succeed at NCEA level 2.

Hon Trevor Mallard: What is her best estimate of the extra time that teachers will spend, and the cost of using a non-standardised system rather than one that is already standardised?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I say to the member that that would very much depend on the assessment tools that teachers are currently using and the effectiveness of those. Many teachers in our schools are already using assessment tools and practices extremely effectively, in which case for them very little will change. Perhaps all that might change is the additional requirement to report to parents against the national standards. But we know that there are many, many students whose teachers are not using effective assessment techniques and tools, and we hope that they will have to make many changes.

Hon Trevor Mallard: In light of the Minister’s last answer, for a teacher currently using asTTle—given that the Minister said that the cost would depend on the system that teachers currently used—what is the Minister’s best estimate of the extra time spent by the teacher and the extra cost to the school of using a non-standardised system rather than the already standardised asTTle system?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: It would depend on exactly what reports those teachers are currently giving parents. It is my understanding that there is not a standard asTTle report. But if teachers are using an asTTle report, they will have to provide an additional report that includes placing results and the progress of students against the national standards. However, if teachers are not producing an asTTle report for parents, they will have to produce just a report showing progress against the national standards.

Jo Goodhew: What advice has the Minister of Education received on the difference between asTTle norms and the benchmarks set by the national standards?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am advised that asTTle is based on population norms—that is, what students are currently learning. We know—[Interruption]

Mr SPEAKER: I apologise to the Minister. The House showed courtesy while the Minister was answering a question from the Opposition; I now ask the House to show the same courtesy while the Minister is answering a question from a member of the Government. I think that that is only fair and reasonable.

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am advised that asTTle is based on population norms—that is, what students are currently learning. We know that, in this modern world, that is not significant enough for our students, and the national standards have been aligned through to NCEA level 2. We know that that is the level that students need for success.

Hon Trevor Mallard: Did I understand the Minister to just say that asTTle results are based on what students are currently learning; if not, would she care to revise that answer?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: I am happy to add to that: learning and achieving.

Hon Trevor Mallard: Does she accept that the asTTle reports for parents provide more, more in-depth, and more useful information to parents than her national standards will; if not, why not?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: As I said to the member before, my understanding is that there is not one standard report from asTTle. Some parents whose schools are using asTTle are getting very detailed information. But I know of one parent, who has talked to me, whose school uses asTTle and translates the asTTle reports into “average”, “above average”, or “below average”. So there is no standard asTTle report. What schools will have to do, in addition to anything else that they are reporting to parents, is to report progress against the national standards, in plain language, at least twice a year. We know that parents cannot wait for that to happen.

Hon Trevor Mallard: Has she looked carefully at the asTTle graphs that are available for parents, which most schools using asTTle give to parents; and does she accept that the information in those graphs provides more, more in-depth, and more useful information to parents than the reports that will be provided as a result of her national standards?

Hon ANNE TOLLEY: Yes, I have looked carefully at the console of reports.