In 2000, the Australian Government committed funding on a trial basis to a Literacy and Numeracy Innovative Projects Initiative. The purpose of the Literacy and Numeracy Innovative Projects Initiative is to provide funding for innovative projects which support improved literacy and numeracy outcomes for those students in the early and middle years who are not achieving the National Benchmarks for Years 3, 5 and 7 or other acceptable minimum standards for students beyond Year 7.
The Initiative supports pilot projects, and trials innovative initiatives which:
- are generated at the local level;
- may be small in scale, though have potential for national application;
- are carried out primarily by non-government organisations that do not have direct access to Australian Government funding for literacy and numeracy programmes;
- foster collaboration between schools and their communities, including early childhood services and community volunteers;
- include an evaluation of student outcomes based on quantitative and qualitative data to determine the extent to which the project has led to improvements in students’ literacy and numeracy achievement outcomes; and
- represent value for money.
Round One of the Literacy and Numeracy Innovative Projects Initiative commenced in 2001, and supported seven projects. Summaries for these projects are located below.
In 2003, the Initiative continued, with Round Two of the Literacy and Numeracy Innovative Projects Initiative supporting ten projects. Project summaries and final project reports for Round Two are located below.
The former Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, approved funding to undertake a third round of the Literacy and Numeracy Innovative Projects Initiative. Successful projects will be funded through the Australian Government’s Literacy, Numeracy and Special Learning Needs Programme, and will commence in 2006.