Students at Educational Risk

Students at educational risk are those students who may be at risk of not achieving the major learning outcomes of schooling which enable them to reach their potential.

Overview

The Making the Difference: Students at Educational Risk strategy supports schools to identify and assist students:

• who are not achieving appropriate standards as described in the Outcomes and Standards Framework
• whose education outcomes have dramatically differed from past performances
• who are not engaging in their schooling

The Students at Educational Risk (SAER) policy establishes school practices that support students at educational risk to develop the understandings, skills, and confidence to achieve their individual potential.

Schools are encouraged to appoint a SAER Coordinator to identify, implement support for and monitor students at risk across areas which include the following:

• attendance and retention
• curriculum
• gifted education
• inclusivity
• Indigenous education
• wellbeing
• vocational education

SAER Coordinators also work closely with a range of other staff including Learning Support Coordinators, Getting it Right specialist teachers and Aboriginal and Islander Education Officers.

Background

The Department’s Making the Difference: Students at Educational Risk strategy was launched in 1998. The strategy outlines a comprehensive and coordinated approach to providing for students at educational risk in public schools.

The strategy involves a range of support to districts and schools to develop processes for addressing the needs of students at risk. This includes the local appointment in many schools and districts of a coordinator who specialises in this area.

Implementation of this strategy is ongoing through the Students at Educational Risk policy and Building Inclusive Classrooms initiative.

Outcomes

• enable the development and maintainance of inclusive teaching and learning environments through the Building Inclusive Classrooms initiative
• be accountable for the educational progress of individuals and groups of students at educational risk
• establish and implement procedures for the identification of students at educational risk
• develop and implement appropriate educational programs for individuals and groups of students at educational risk