The Education Adjustment Program Profile – Revised

Outline of Session Background to the revision of the Education Adjustment Program Profile Review process Key changes Implementation timeline

The Education Adjustment Program (EAP) commenced in Education Adjustment Program

Setting the EAP context The Education Adjustment Program contributes to promoting inclusive and accountable curriculum for students with disabilities provides foundation for resourcing processes

Identification Obtain & record parent permission to start process Diagnosis / Specialist Assessment Verification of Disability Register student on database (AIMS) EAP Profile/s completed and submitted Validation Step 1 Quality Assurance Points Recognised Specialists DET Statewide Verifiers Principal authorises accuracy Validation process Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 Step 6 Step 7 Adjustments EAP

The EAP Profile What is it? A questionnaire focusing on what adjustments school personnel currently make to support a student with disabilities in school.

The EAP Profile What does it do? It records the education adjustments being made to support a student in accessing curriculum, achieving curriculum outcomes and participating in the life of the school. The profile records the frequency of a sample of education adjustments.

Profiles Two EAP profiles exist until 29 June 2009: EAP Profile - describes the range of adjustments schools make for students with disabilities in Years 1 to 12 and in special schools (74 items). Beginning School Profile (BSP) - describes the adjustments made for children with disabilities in the year prior to compulsory education (77 items). Most items have examples attached to them.

Focus Areas Both the EAP Profile and the Beginning School Profile consist of six focus areas: Curriculum Communication Social Participation/Emotional Wellbeing Health and Personal Care Safety Learning Environment/Access

The department identified the need to review the EAP Profile and Beginning School Profile as part of the ongoing review cycle for EAP. Review of Profiles

Purpose of the Profile Review To review the EAP Profile and the BSP in terms of: current best practice in education conceptual clarity investigating opportunities to reduce the workload requirements for school staff including specialist support staff

Statistical analysis of current profile items to consider reliability and validity for differentiating student and school needs Draft Profile prepared Statistical Study across a sample of students Feedback analysed Profile adjusted Approval of Profile Review Process

Consultation The review process has been informed by broad consultation during: the transition to full implementation of EAP from the start of 2005 to the commencement of 2008 the EAP validation process which has involved ongoing professional consultation regarding the use and interpretation of the EAP profile items the development of the updated EAP profile manual during 2008.

Revised Profile Changes Deleting six (6) questions Rewording of some questions Clarifying the question intent Changing frequency response options of some questions Adjusting the layout of the profile Using one EAP Profile for all students from Prep to Year 12

Deleting Six Questions Data analysis and feedback indicate that these questions are regularly misinterpreted and less discriminating. The smaller number of profile questions to be completed will result in reduced workload. The Revised EAP Profile has 68 questions replacing the current EAP Profile (74 questions) and the Beginning School Profile (77 questions).

Rewording of Some Questions To enhance understanding To ensure the language used within the profile is clearly linked with other departmental strategic priorities e.g. P-12 Curriculum Framework To reduce time spent interpreting and understanding questions

Clarifying Question Intent Clarified question intent ensures that profile questions are readily understood and will reduce the time spent interpreting questions.

Changing Frequency Response Options Response options to some questions have been reduced. Further frequency options have been added for some questions to more readily reflect the frequency of adjustments made.

Adjusting the Layout Consistent subheadings and frequency options have been used to support understanding across the profile. Clear and consistent structure will reduce time spent in completing the profile.

One EAP Profile The revised EAP Profile replaces both the EAP Profile and the BSP. The BSP was developed for the transition from preschool to Year 1 and does not accurately reflect the current transition from Prep to Year 1. The revised EAP Profile will be used for students from Prep to Year 12, eliminating the need to be familiar with multiple tools.

Updating AIMS AIMS will be updated to include the revised EAP Profile from the beginning of Semester

Summary of EAP Profile Review One profile Quicker Easier to understand Linked to the P-12 Curriculum Framework

The EAP Profile Underlying principles and assumptions for the EAP Profile remain the same: It is designed to report adjustments currently being made for a student The Profile samples the adjustments the school makes to meet a student's needs The appropriateness of recorded adjustments remain the decision of the school. Selecting and prioritising the appropriateness of education adjustments is integral to the way teachers plan and deliver a quality curriculum.

The EAP Profile Schools will not be disadvantaged by the implementation of the revised EAP Profile and the discontinuation of the current two EAP Profile instruments.

Implementation Timeline BSP current for Semester – all students on BSP to be transitioned to revised EAP Profile by the end of The revised EAP Profile will replace the current EAP profile from the beginning of Semester (13 July 2009). Education Adjustment Program Handbook will incorporate the revised profile. Website updated Term

Further Information EAP Website Gateway to Educational Adjustments and Programming Gateway Registration Information