SCHOOLS — EXCLUSIONS AND SUSPENSIONS

2427. Hon Alison Xamon to the Minister for Education and Training:

I refer to exclusions and suspensions in public schools, and I ask:

(a)  how many students were recommended for exclusion, but not excluded in:

(i)  Term 1, 2019;

(ii)  Term 2, 2019; and

(iii)  Term 3 2019, to date;

(b)  how many students were excluded in:

(i)  Term 1, 2019;

(ii)  Term 2, 2019; and

(iii)  Term 3 2019, to date;

(c)  how many students who have been excluded this year have been diagnosed or assessed as having:

(i)  disability;

(ii)  a learning difficulty; and

(iii)  a mental health issue;

(d)  for each student who has been excluded this year, please advise whether they are now accessing education through:

(i)  another mainstream school;

(ii)  an engagement centre;

(iii)  the School of Isolated and Distance Education;

(iv)  an Alternative Learning Setting program;

(v)  a CARE school; and

(vi)  another setting (please advise which setting);

(e)  are any compulsory fees associated with accessing education through any of the options from (d)(i)–(vi);

(f)  if yes to (e), how much are the fees;

(g)  how many students have been suspended from Western Australian public schools in 2019 to date; and

(h)  how many of the students from (g) have received a diagnosis of autism?

Hon Sue Ellery replied:

(a)  Number of students recommended but not excluded:

Term 1, 2019	Term 2, 2019	Term 3, 2019 as at 11 September
4	3	3

(b)  Number of students recommended who were excluded

Term 1, 2019	Term 2, 2019	Term 3, 2019 as at 11 September
22	15	12

In recommending a student for exclusion, the principal is required to consider whether a student’s actions are a symptom or manifestation of a disability. To assist in their determination, principals usually seek advice from suitably qualified persons including the school psychologist, lead school psychologist and/or the relevant School of Special Educational Needs.

(c)  The capacity to exclude a child with disability is not new.

In recommending a student for exclusion, the principal is required to consider whether a student’s actions are a symptom or manifestation of a disability.

The School Education Act 1999 (the Act) outlines the process required when a principal makes a recommendation for exclusion.

Of the 49 students excluded as at 11 September 2019:

(i)  five students were at some time during their schooling assessed as having met the Department’s criteria for disability resourcing through an Individual Disability Allocation (IDA). One of these students is currently eligible for the school to receive an IDA.

(ii)  13 students were identified at the school level, through the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) on school students with disability, as having a cognitive disability requiring teaching and learning adjustments. This includes two students from c(i).

(iii)  10 students were identified at the school level, through the NCCD, as having a social/emotional disability requiring teaching and learning adjustments. This includes two students from c(i).

(d) The number of students excluded during 2019 currently accessing an educational setting (by type):

Education Setting	Number of Students
Another mainstream school	5
Engagement Centre	9
School of Isolated and Distance Education	1
Alternative Learning Setting	6
CARE School	4*
Another setting: (a) Community Based Program	(a) 1
(b) Police and Community Youth Centres	(b) 2*
(c) Trade Skills Centre	(c) 3
(d) Flexible Learning Centre	(d) 2

*One student attends PCYC and a Care School

Three students who were temporarily excluded have returned to their original school.

(e)  Yes.

(f)  Compulsory Fees by educational setting:

Education Setting	Compulsory Fees	Timeframe
Another mainstream school	Nil
Engagement Centre	Nil
School of Isolated and Distance Education	Nil
Alternative Learning Setting	Nil
CARE School	Up to $2 600.00	per annum
Another setting: (a) Community Based Program (b) PCYC (c) Trade Skills Centre (d) Flexible Learning Centre	$3 000.00 $221.97 Up to $420.00 Nil	per course per course per course

Note: The above costings are general and may vary according to the course(s) selected.

(g)  as at 9 September 2019, 12 626.

(h)  as at 9 September 2019, 608 students have received or are awaiting formal diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.