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Understanding the Teacher Standards
Understanding the Teacher Standards
The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (the Teacher Standards) are a public statement of what constitutes teacher quality by providing a framework that makes clear the knowledge, practice, and professional engagement required across teachers’ careers. The Teacher Standards can support teachers to recognise their current and developing capabilities and guide the development of learning goals.
There are seven Teacher Standards:
- Standard 1: Know students and how they learn
- Standard 2: Know the content and how to teach it
- Standard 3: Plan for and implement effective teaching and learning
- Standard 4: Create and maintain supportive and safe learning environments
- Standard 5: Assess, provide feedback, and report on student learning
- Standard 6: Engage in professional learning
- Standard 7: Engage professionally with colleagues, parents/carers, and the community
The seven Teacher Standards are grouped into three domains:
- Professional knowledge (Standards 1 and 2)
- Professional practice (Standards 3, 4, and 5)
- Professional engagement (Standards 6 and 7)
Each Standard is broken down into focus areas that describe the components of quality teaching. Each focus area is then concisely separated into four career stages which reflect the continuum of a teacher’s professional development from initial teacher education outcomes through to exemplary classroom leadership.
The four career stages are:
Graduate teachers have completed an accredited initial teacher education program. The award of this qualification means the individual has demonstrated that they have met the Graduate career stage descriptors of the Teacher Standards.
To learn more, please see our page on the Graduate career stage.
Proficient teachers have met the requirements for full registration. In Tasmania, the Teachers Registration Board outlines the process that teachers must follow to demonstrate their practice against the Proficient career stage descriptors of all seven Teacher Standards.
To learn more, please see our page on the Proficient career stage.
The Teacher Standards describe Highly Accomplished teachers as being recognised as highly effective, skilled classroom practitioners, who routinely work independently and collaboratively to improve their own practice and the practice of colleagues. They are knowledgeable and active members of their school community.
Read the Highly Accomplished career stage descriptors.
In Tasmania, the Teachers Registration Board is the certifiying authority that oversees the process for teachers to be recognised as Highly Accomplished. To learn more, please see our page about the Tasmanian HALT pilot.
The Teacher Standards describe Lead teachers as being recognised and respected as exemplary teachers by colleagues, parents/carers, and the community. They have demonstrated consistent and innovative teaching practice over time. Inside and outside the school they initiate and lead activities that focus on improving educational opportunities for all students.
Read the Lead career stage descriptors.
In Tasmania, the Teachers Registration Board is the certifiying authority that oversees the process for teachers to be recognised as Lead teachers. To learn more, please see our page about the Tasmanian HALT pilot.
To learn more about the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers, please visit www.aitsl.edu.au/standards.