The department produces an annual report each year for the SA Parliament. The annual report contains information for stakeholders about the department’s activities and outcomes for each calendar year, including progress towards South Australia’s Strategic Plan, financial information, human resources and statutory reporting.

Highlights of the 2011 Annual Report:

• South Australian literacy/numeracy performance
  In national testing (NAPLAN) South Australian students continued to perform consistently with results achieved in previous years, and relative to students in other states and territories. In 2011 our results are reported to align with SASP targets, which focus on fewer children doing poorly and more children doing better.
  
  
• New SA schools open
  In 2011, all six new schools announced as part of the Education works initiative were open to students and staff.
  
  
• Premier’s Reading Challenge
  In 2011 there was a 3% increase from 2010 in the number of students taking the Challenge – 81 363 public education students took part.
  
  
• Premier’s be active challenge
  There was a 13% increase in the number of students who took part in the 'be active' Challenge from 2010, with 82% of public education students taking part.
  
  
• Maximising pathways for young South Australians
  Various programs aimed at engaging young people in secondary education and providing flexible opportunities to partner with community, trades and industry continue to thrive. For example, since 2005 more than 10 000 students have been supported through ICANS, with a consistently high success rate of greater than 70% re-engagement in learning or earning.
  
  
• Children's centres
  There were 23 children's centres for early childhood development operational by end-December 2011.
  
  
• Teaching for effective learning
  28 000 copies of the Teaching for effective learning framework resource have now been distributed to South Australian teachers and leaders.
  
  
• Out of school hours care
  By mid-2011, there were 36 675 out of school hours care places available in South Australia.
  
  
• Aboriginal cultural education curriculum
  The draft Aboriginal cultural curriculum was completed in 2011, following extensive consultation with Aboriginal communities and educators.
  
  
• Student attendance and behaviour
  A number of initiatives to support student attendance were implemented in 2011. Three metropolitan and one country 'better behaviour centres' for students from years 3-7 were established to provide an early intervention approach.
  
  
• National objectives supported
  South Australia made significant progress in implementing 12 national partnership agreements for early childhood and schooling.