ABSTRACT
Since 2000, Australia has seen a steady decline in the performances of 15-year-olds, with the greatest declines occurring among higher-achieving students. One in seven students now performs below the OECD’s minimum standard in reading; one in five, below the minimum standard in mathematical literacy. There has also been no improvement in the relative performances of Indigenous students or students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. Overall declines have occurred at a time when governments have placed a high priority on improving students’ literacy and numeracy levels. Declines in PISA performance have not been uniform across the country, suggesting that there may be lessons to be learned from what some Australian states are doing.
