Appendix 3 - Further guidelines - English as a Second Language (ESL) tuition
Overview
In respect of the Census, whether or not an enrolled student is classified as a student requiring ESL tuition depends on the opinion of the school’s principal.
Relevant students should be assessed and there should be documented evidence to support the principal’s decision on whether or not the student requires ESL tuition. This evidence must be retained by the school/governing body for a period of five years from Census Day, and in a way that ensures the integrity and security of the data and documents.
Whether or not a student requires ESL tuition
A part-time or full-time student, eligible to be included on the Census for requiring ESL tuition, is to be included if, on or before Census Day, the school’s principal has formed an opinion (which the principal has documented with substantiating reasons) that the student (at the time of the Census) requires ESL tuition.
Examples - ESL tuition - eligible
- Marie is an enrolled student at a school. Marie speaks Aboriginal English and does not have full proficiency in Standard Australian English. In the opinion of the school’s principal, Marie requires ESL tuition.
Decision: Marie is eligible to be classified as a student requiring ESL tuition, as the principal has determined, on or before Census Day, that ESL tuition is required and has documented his or her reasons for forming that opinion. - Linh is an enrolled student at the school. Linh’s parents moved to Australia late last year. Linh is 14 years of age and is in Year 8, the second year of secondary education. The school’s principal has undertaken an assessment and decided that Linh requires ESL tuition.
Decision: Linh is eligible to be counted as ESL in the Census, as the principal has determined before Census Day that, in his or her opinion, Linh requires ESL tuition. The principal has documented his or her reasons for forming that opinion.
Examples -ESL tuition - not eligible
- Kevin is an enrolled student at the school. Kevin’s parents migrated to Australia from China when Kevin was five years of age. Neither of his parents speak English. Kevin is now in Year 6, and he speaks, reads and writes English fluently.
Decision: Kevin is not eligible to be counted as ESL in the Census, as he does not require any ESL tuition. - Erick is an enrolled student at the school. Erick’s parents migrated to Australia when Erick was five years of age. Erick is in Year 1. The school’s principal has not undertaken an assessment as to whether Erick requires ESL tuition.
Decision: Erick is not eligible to be counted as ESL in the Census, as the principal has not determined before Census Day that, in his or her opinion, Erick requires ESL tuition.
>> Appendix 4
Last updated 31 January, 2023