Approved Educational Courses Policy for Public Schools

1. Purpose
   1. This policy establishes the conditions that must be met for the approval of educational courses held at a place other than a school.
2. Policy Statement
   1. The Director-General, Education Directorate may approve educational courses for a child enrolled at a public school that are provided to the child at a place other than the school.
   2. Approved Educational Courses are educational courses for a student enrolled at a government school that may be provided to the student at a place other than the school. For clarity Approved Educational Courses are delivered by external organisations and contribute to the participation requirements of a student enrolled in a government school. Flexible Education programs delivered by the Education Directorate do not require approval as an Approved Educational Course as these are covered separately under the Education Act 2004 as ‘school related institutions and services’.
   3. A person providing an approved educational course must:
      • deliver courses of study consistent with the ACT Curriculum
      • deliver courses of study that are appropriate to the needs of the student(s) undertaking the course(s)
      • verify teaching staff are suitably qualified or have appropriate experience to deliver the course
      • verify all staff employed by the education provider have undergone background checking and registration in accordance with the Working with Vulnerable People Act 2011 (WWVP Act). The provider must provide a report verifying all staff are registered in accordance with the WWVP Act must be provided to the Director-General prior to the course being approved
      • use best practice methods in pedagogy, assessment, record keeping and student management
      • make curriculum documentation available to parents
      • comply with the Directorate’s Reporting Student Achievement (Preschool-Year 12) Policy.
   4. A person providing an approved educational course must comply with the provisions of the Education Act 2004 (the Act), sections 32 and 33, regarding the recording of enrolment and attendance of students at an approved educational course and provide this record of attendance to the principal of the ACT public school/s at which the students are enrolled.
   5. As stipulated under Section 34 of the Act, the register of enrolments and attendance must be available on request by the Director-General or an authorised person.
   6. Any person providing an approved educational course will:
      • ensure all activities are conducted in a manner that eliminates or minimises risks to health and safety
      • ensure compliance with the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 and associated regulations, standards and codes of practice
      • provide appropriate levels of duty of care
   7. Any person providing an approved educational course is required to provide suitable facilities at which to conduct the educational course. Indoor and outdoor environments must:
      • be safe, clean and provide adequate space for the course to be delivered
      • provide easy access for all students
      • be appropriate to the ages, developmental abilities, interests, needs and skills
      • be conductive to the achievement of the course outcomes
3. Scope
   1. This policy applies to principals, students, parents and educational course providers.
4. Context
   1. The Education Act 2004, Section 31 provides the legislative basis for the approval of educational courses at a place other than the school.
5. Responsibilities
   1. The Principal is responsible for implementing the policy.
   2. The School Board is responsible for developing, maintaining and reviewing the school curriculum plan.
   3. The Director-General is responsible for approving the educational course.
   4. Policy Owner: The Executive Branch Manager, Education Programs and Services is responsible for this policy.
6. Monitoring and Review
   1. The Policy Owner monitors the policy. This includes an annual scan of operation and review.
7. Contact
   1. For support, contact the Executive Branch Manager, Education Programs and Services at eduprogramsandservices@act.gov.au.
8. Feedback
   1. Any feedback about this policy, should be raised with the policy owner. Refer to Contact information above.
9. References
   1. Definitions
      • The ACT Curriculum: Preschool to Year 10 is prescribed by the Director-General. It comprises the Australian Curriculum and Belonging, Being and Becoming: The Early Years Learning Framework.
      • Approved Educational Course: Approved Educational Courses are educational courses for a student enrolled at a government school that may be provided to the student at a place other than the school. For clarity approved educational courses are delivered by external organisations and contribute to the participation requirements of a student enrolled in a government school. Flexible education programs delivered by the Education Directorate do not require approval as an approved educational course as these are covered separately under the Education Act 2004 as ‘school related institutions and services’.
   2. Legislation
      • The Education Act 2004 provides for the operation and governance of ACT public schools, including Approved Educational Courses.
      • The Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 requires people working or volunteering in ‘Activities or Services for Children’ and have contact with vulnerable people while engaging in regulated activities and services to register with the Office of Regulatory Services.
   3. Related Policies and Information
      • Compulsory Education Student Enrolment and Attendance Policy
      • Reporting Student Achievement (Preschool-Year12) Policy

00066 Policy: is the unique identifier of this document. It is the responsibility of the user to verify that this is the current and complete version of the document, available on the Directorate’s website at http://www.education.act.gov.au/publications_and_policies/school_and_corporate_policies/A-Z/.