Term

Definition

Assessment Tools for Teaching and Learning (asTTle)

Assessment Tools for Teaching and Learning (asTTle) is an educational resource for assessing reading, writing and mathematics for students in years 4 to 12. The primary purpose of asTTLe is to provide a tool for teachers to assess individual students’ learning needs.

B4 School Checks (Before School Checks)

B4 School Checks are universal health checks that will be offered to all four-year olds nationally by District Health Boards. Checks include general health, oral health, vision, hearing, behaviour and development, and will be rolled out during 2008.

Best Evidence Synthesis

The best evidence synthesis iterations draw together, explain and illustrate through vignette and case studies, bodies of evidence about what makes a difference to improve education outcomes.

Careers New Zealand

Careers New Zealand assists in the achievement of government education, training and employment goals through the provision of high-quality career information, advice and guidance services.

District Truancy Services

District Truancy Services support schools to manage truancy by receiving and responding to referrals from schools of students who have unjustified absences. The District Truancy Services then provide schools with the information to enable them to implement a course of action designed to ensure a student attends school regularly.

Early Leaving Exemption

Parents may apply for students to leave school before the age of 16. The application must be based in the students’ educational problems or conduct, or estimated benefit of their staying at school. Students granted an Early Leaving Exemption can take up training courses, enrol in a tertiary education organisation, or begin full-time employment.

edCentre

An online gateway to information about New Zealand education. It provides access to educational services and advice for organisations and people at all stages of their lives.

Education Counts

An online resource to increase the availability and accessibility of information about education statistics and research. Education Counts can be considered a “one-stop shop” for such information including demographic, contextual, statistical, analysis, and technical information to support the use and interpretation of data.

The Education Review Office (ERO)

The Education Review Office (ERO) is the government department which reviews and reports publicly on the quality of education in all New Zealand schools and early childhood education services, including private schools, kura kaupapa Māori (Māori language immersion schools), special schools and ngā kōhanga reo (Māori language early childhood education groups).

Free ECE

From 1 July 2007, up to 20 hours of Free ECE each week is available to three- and four-year- old children in participating kōhanga reo and teacher-led ECE services (kindergartens, centre based and home based).

Gateway

Programme to build links between schools and businesses and allow schools to offer work-based learning opportunities to their students. Administered by the Tertiary Education Commission.

Information and Communications Technologies (ICT)

ICT includes any communication device or application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well as the various services and applications associated with them, such as videoconferencing and distance learning.

National Administration Guidelines (NAGs)

National Administration Guidelines are guidelines and/or requirements relating to school administration.

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)

National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) is New Zealand’s main national qualification for secondary school students and part of the National Qualifications Framework.

National Digital Strategy

The Digital Strategy (2005) is the Government’s five-year action plan to create a digital future for all New Zealanders, using information and communications technology.

National Student Number (NSN)

A National Student Number is a unique identifier for students enrolled with an education provider, used for monitoring, resourcing, statistical, research and records purposes.

New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI)

The New Zealand Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) is a professional and industrial education union representing staff employed in primary, secondary and area schools, early childhood education centres, specialist education services and colleges of education.

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA)

The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) provides national and international leadership in assessment and qualifications. NZQA provides quality assurance for secondary and tertiary qualifications and education providers, recognition of qualifications including from overseas, administration of national assessment for secondary qualifications, administration of the New Zealand Register of Quality Assured Qualifications and stewardship of the National Qualifications System.

New Zealand Teachers Council

The New Zealand Teachers Council is the professional body for all registered teachers working in early childhood, primary, secondary, tertiary and other teaching situations. It has responsibility for teacher registration, oversight of teacher education, and a role in teacher conduct and performance issues.

Public Service Association (PSA)

The Public Service Association (PSA) is a state sector union covering members in the public service, health services, local government, Crown agencies and private business.

Schools Plus

Schools Plus is the Government’s policy, currently being developed, which aims to achieve the goal that all young people are in education, skills, or structured learning, relevant to their needs and abilities, until the age of 18.

Severe Behaviour Initiative

The Severe Behaviour Initiative is a programme designed to provide assessment and intervention which will make an ongoing positive difference for students with severe behaviour difficulties.

Tertiary Education Commission (TEC)

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) gives effect to the government’s priorities for tertiary education, and funds post-compulsory education and training offered by universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics, colleges of education, wananga, private training establishments, foundation education agencies, industry training organisations, and adult and community education providers.

Tertiary Education Strategy (TES)

The Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) 2007-2012 (incorporating the Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities 2008-2010) outlines the key priorities and strategic objectives for tertiary education over the next five years.

Unified Skills Strategy

The Unified Skills Strategy will be developed by a cross-government, business and industry forum. It will deliver a shared vision to ensure New Zealand individuals and organisations are able to develop and use the skills needed in the workplaces of the future.