SAC newsletters

February 2023
SAC#1 - 20 Feb 2023

Topics in this SAC update

• SAC Timeline
• When you email NZQA about SAC
• New Learning Support staff and updating contact information
• New applications and rollovers for 2023
• Applications failing to submit
• Transferring students
• Browser problems
• SAC for the Literacy and Numeracy/Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau Corequisites
• Trialling text-to-speech and other assistive technologies
• Upcoming SAC seminars

SAC timeline

The 2023 Key Dates Calendar is published on the NZQA website. The dates relevant to SAC are below. The Timeline page provides an overview.

When you email NZQA about SAC

To ensure a timely response, please:

• email all queries to sac@nzqa.govt.nz rather than to personal email addresses
• put your school name and provider number in the subject line
• include the student's name and NSN if your query is about a specific student

New Learning Support staff and updating contact information

When there are changes to staffing please ask your ESL Authoriser in your school (ask your PN if unsure) to update those details in our system under High Security Features/School’s Administration/Profile. Check new staff are authorised with an Education Sector Logon (ESL).

The Special Assessment Conditions web page at www.nzqa.govt.nz/sac has a video tutorial on Introduction to SAC.

New applications and rollovers for 2023

Applications for 2023 are open. Advise staff that students may start using SAC for their internal assessments once their application is submitted, in the expectation that it will be approved. If a SAC is declined notify the student, parents and teachers immediately.

Our first Application Deadline is the end of Term 1. We aim to process these as soon as possible so that students may have certainty in their entitlements for their internal assessments. Applications (including those for Learning Disorders) can continue to be made after this deadline but there will be a delay in response. All approved entitlements will be for one year.

The facility for Rollovers and Changes for candidates with existing entitlements opened on 1 February and rolling over an application will be all that is required for automatic renewal for a further one-year period. Your needs analysis and discussions with the student will determine whether to rollover, change or remove the application.

Applications failing to submit

Any NSN, Date of Birth and Last Name mismatch will prevent submission and this error will show in red at the top of the screen. This validation process is a check against data in ENROL.

Any sections not completed in the application will be listed in red at the top of the screen. Click on the Tab(s) listed and add missing information. Once corrections have been made, click on Submit.

Transferring students

If you enrol a new student with existing entitlements from another school, don’t apply for them. Email sac@nzqa.govt.nz  with their name and NSN and your school name and provider number and ask for them to be transferred to your SAC list.

Browser problems

If you have problems with the online application (such as the screen freezing), please try the following before contacting NZQA:

• Clear your browser history, restart the computer and try again
• If you are using Chrome as your browser, try Firefox
• If this does not work, use another computer (e.g. change from a laptop to a desktop). If the system works on this computer, then the problem is with your original computer's settings and you will have to check with your technician

If this does not resolve the problem, pleas email sac@nzqa.govt.nz

SAC for the Literacy and Numeracy/Te Reo Matatini me te Pāngarau Corequisites

Instructions on the provision of SAC for the assessment of these new Corequisites can be found via the Quicklinks on the NZQA SAC webpage at http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/sac

Please note that this applies for 2023 only at this stage.

Please email sac@nzqa.govt.nz if you have any queries.

Trialling text-to-speech and other assistive technologies

NZQA will continue the trial of text-to-speech (Polly) and other assistive technologies during the assessment of the Literacy and Numeracy Corequisites this year.

Further information will be provided by email soon.

Please consider participating in this trial as this will support the progress to make these technologies widely available for digital assessment.

Upcoming SAC seminars

The seminar is for PNs, SENCOs, Learning Support Coordinators and other learning support including RTLB.

• The first part of this Seminar will focus on the implications for SAC as a result of the changes to NCEA from 2024 as well as the provision of support for students being assessed for the Corequisites. This information is important for all schools.
• The second part of the Seminar will focus on the current application process and is aimed at new or inexperienced SENCOS.

There will be plenty of opportunity for questions and discussion.

If you would like to host a seminar in your region please email sac@nzqa.govt.nz