Schools in South East Queensland affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred have been given the option to delay the start of NAPLAN assessments.
Instead of holding the national tests this week, impacted schools could choose to begin the assessments on Monday, March 17, offering greater flexibility for schools and communities to recover from the disruption.
NAPLAN, or the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy, is used to assess the literacy and numeracy skills of students in years 3, 5, 7, and 9.
The results are used by schools, educators, and the government to identify areas for improvement in the education system and to ensure that students are meeting key learning milestones.
This decision applies to the 661 State schools, 183 Catholic schools, and 205 Independent schools temporarily closed due to the cyclone.
Schools are communicating directly with their communities to inform them of their individual decisions regarding the revised NAPLAN schedule.
For schools in Queensland that were unaffected by the cyclone, preparations were due to continue as usual, with the assessments set to begin on Wednesday, March 12.
The decision was made in consultation with both the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority and the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority to ensure the best outcome for students and educators during these challenging circumstances.


