Delivery of the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) for Victorian Schools 2019 - 2021

⁠⁠⁠The National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN), is an annual assessment where all students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 in Australia complete a series of tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and Numeracy (working effectively with numbers, space and measurement). All students in those year levels are expected to participate. The results of the tests provide information for students, parents, teachers and principals about student achievement which can be used to support teaching and learning programs. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) has overall responsibility for NAPLAN across Australia, including development of the tests.

The Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) is the Test Administration Authority (TAA) for all schools in Victoria. As the TAA for Victoria, the VCAA is responsible for the successful implementation of NAPLAN for Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 students in Victorian Government, Catholic and Independent schools.

NAPLAN is currently transitioning from a pen and paper to an online test (i.e., students will complete NAPLAN tests using a computer or other electronic device, such as a tablet).

In 2018, an initial cohort of schools (124 in Victoria) undertook the NAPLAN tests online. It is anticipated that all remaining schools will transition to online across 2019 and 2020. During this period, services to support both pen and paper and online delivery are required. In general, online delivery will be on a ‘whole school’ basis, noting that all Year 3 students will continue to undertake the Writing Test as a paper based assessment. The suppliers will need to respond to, and cost, several potential scenarios in their response, which are based on percentages of schools either undertaking the test online or paper-based. This will provide flexibility for the VCAA to implement the most appropriate contractual arrangements for the transition.

The VCAA is looking to work with a supplier through this transition period that is flexible, responsive and understands a changing national landscape. Further information regarding the delivery of NAPLAN online can be found at: http://www.nap.edu.au/naplan.