The Curriculum Standards are currently being trialed and calibrated as part of the draft South Australian Curriculum Standards and Accountability Framework, in preparation for the final framework that will be used by all schools from 2001. The Curriculum Standards are set at Years 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12, and will form the basis for schools’ reporting of learner achievement to parents and State Office. Preceding Curriculum Standard 1 at year 2, are developmental learning outcomes that guide learning in the early years.

The nationally agreed Benchmarks in Literacy (writing, reading and spelling) and Numeracy (will) form the basis of states’ reporting to the Commonwealth on students’ achievement in each of these particular areas. This will be done through the statewide assessment processes, principally the Basic Skills Tests and the Writing Assessment. Reports to parents will indicate whether their child has met the relevant benchmark. The Year 7 assessment is currently being developed.

The (Year 3 and 5 Literacy) benchmarks have been distributed to all schools, in order for teachers to appreciate their implications for curriculum development and assessment practices.