30 May 2017
In South Australia in 2016, 61.6 per cent of all students in care were enrolled in DECD schools.[spacer height=”15px”]
The Guardian’s latest report Children and Young People in State Care in South Australian Government Schools 2008-2016, is due for release tomorrow. The report explores how well the state school system is providing for children and young people in care in these and other areas:[spacer height=”5px”]
disability
- A greater proportion have learning disabilities, notably in speech and language skills.
- The proportion with an intellectual disability is nearly seven times the overall DECD student population.
- The proportion with a speech and language related disability is over three times the overall DECD student population.
absence
- The absence rate is only slightly higher than that for the overall DECD school population.
- Aboriginal children in care have lower rates of absence than the overall DECD student population in significant categories.
- Children and young people in care from non-English speaking backgrounds have over double the absence rate of all DECD enrolled students.
suspension
- Students in care have higher rates of suspension but only in their primary school years.
NAPLAN
- Many students in care in DECD schools do not sit the NAPLAN test, categorised as absent, exempt or withdrawn. For example, for almost half of all Year 9 DECD enrolled students in care there is no information about them in critical areas such as numeracy and reading which may cast doubt on the validity of the reported figures.[spacer height=”15px”]
You can read the full report on the Guardian’s website now.
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