190979
7 October 2019 Senior secondary Number: 053/19
Subject achievement indicators (SAIs) — procedures for 2019
Purpose
To advise that:
• schools need to install the latest version of BonSAI_2014
• resources are available to support schools when assigning and checking SAIs
• webinars will be held in Term 4 about how to use BonSAI_2014 to check SAIs
• schools need to nominate a contact person who is available to speak to QCAA staff about SAIs until Monday 2 December 2019
• sample SAI distributions can be submitted for checking and feedback before the due date.
Background
SAIs are a crucial part of the OP calculation process. Schools are required to assign SAIs to OP-eligible Year 12 students in large subject groups (those with 14 or more OP-eligible students) and submit them to the QCAA via the Student Data Capture System (SDCS) as part of Data submission 5 by 10 am on Thursday 21 November 2019.
BonSAI_2014 is a tool that helps schools assign and check SAIs. The QCAA uses BonSAI_2014 to check all SAI distributions schools submit in Data submission 5.
Information
BonSAI_2014
BonSAI_2014 is the only program that the QCAA recommends schools use to assign and check SAIs. Schools that have not installed BonSAI_2014 should do so immediately. It is available at www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/tertiary-entrance/sais-bonsai.
This webpage also provides a BonSAI_2014 user guide, SAI factsheets and recently updated video tutorials. The factsheets contain information about SAIs and BonSAI_2014, how the QCAA checks SAIs and what schools should do if the QCAA contacts them about SAIs. Please pay particular attention to Fact Sheet 5 about checking SAI ratio multiplicity.
Memo
Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Memo
Subject achievement indicators (SAIs) — procedures for 2019 Queensland Curriculum & Assessment Authority 7 October 2019 Page 2 of 2
Webinars
The QCAA will hold a series of short webinars about SAIs and BonSAI_2014 during Term 4.
These webinars will focus on how to use the tools in BonSAI_2014 to check SAI distributions.
Contact person for SAIs
The QCAA will contact the principal’s delegate if any issues are identified during SAI checking from 22 November to 2 December. If the principal’s delegate wishes to assign this responsibility to another staff member, they should email [email protected] with that person’s name, position and contact details. Please only advise the QCAA if the contact person will be someone other than the principal’s delegate.
The contact person must be able to convey information to other staff members and implement decisions, as QCAA staff cannot talk to individual subject teachers about SAIs. A school staff member responsible for data entry only is not a suitable contact person.
Sample SAI distributions
QCAA staff are available to check and give feedback on sample SAI distributions before they are submitted via SDCS. If you wish to do this, export files with SAIs from BonSAI_2014 and attach them to an email addressed to [email protected].
Please send only one email per school, with a maximum of five SAI distributions attached. These need to be received by Wednesday 13 November for QCAA staff to provide timely feedback.
What you need to do
1. Delete earlier versions of BonSAI and BonSAI_2014 from school computers and networks.
Download and install the current version of BonSAI_2014 from www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/senior/tertiary-entrance/sais-bonsai.
Direct all users to the BonSAI_2014 User guide, SAI factsheets and video tutorials.
2. Inform relevant staff of the webinars about using BonSAI_2014 for checking SAIs.
Webinars will be held in Term 4 and places are limited.
For more information, and to register, see www.qcaa.qld.edu.au/pd-events.
3. If principal’s delegates wish to nominate another staff member to be the school’s contact person for SAIs, please email [email protected] by Monday 11 November.
The contact person must be available until Monday 2 December.
4. Alert relevant staff that sample SAI distributions can be emailed to
[email protected] for checking and feedback. Please email the samples by Wednesday 13 November.
Finding out more
Please email Karen Wilson, Manager, Performance Information and Monitoring Unit at [email protected], or phone (07) 3864 0438.
Wayne Poole
Assistant Director, Analysis and Reporting Branch
