Proposals for School Developed Board Endorsed Courses

Information on this page outlines the application process for schools who wish to offer a Loading . SDBECs address identified local student needs. To offer a SDBEC, schools must submit a course proposal to NESA for endorsement.

A SDBEC Panel considers proposals and endorses them if they meet the Loading  and contain sufficient supporting evidence.

The application closing date for SDBECs beginning in 2027 is Thursday 2 April 2026.

NESA only accepts proposals for a Stage 5 SDBEC that is for student(s) learning braille. 

Proposals are submitted via email to curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au. Contact the SDBEC Program Manager for the application form (+61 2 9367 8333).

Schools submit Stage 6 SDBECs via Loading . This is for both new course proposals and proposals that have expired (renewals).

Access the Board Endorsed Course Proposals section of Schools Online to complete the application. School principals or other authorised persons in schools can provide this access.

Group proposals should be made under the leadership of a single ‘lead’ school or a school system or sector:

• The lead school or school system or sector must ensure that the principal of each of the other schools gives permission to be included in the application.
• If additional schools are to be added to the proposal, the principal of the lead school or school system or sector must send a request to the SDBEC Program Manager at curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au.
• Multi-campus schools may use the group proposal option if more than one campus wishes to deliver the course.

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A SDBEC proposal must satisfy both criteria for course rationale and one of the criteria for student need.

Courses must satisfy all the following criteria:

1. The need for the course is not satisfied by current curriculum and there is no duplication or overlap with existing NESA course(s).
2. The course is rigorous and high quality, and provides a strong foundation for future learning and life beyond school.

Courses must also satisfy one of the following criteria:

1. There is evidence of student demand for the course of at least 100 students per year over the approval period, except in circumstances approved by the NESA Board, or
2. The course meets the needs of students with disability, or
3. The course meets the need for a community language not available as a Board Developed course. 

All SDBEC proposals must include evidence of:

• a strong foundation for future learning and life beyond school, and
• student need.

This may include:

• opportunities to build on the knowledge and skills taught in the proposed course such as:
  • university and/or vocational education and training courses
  • other post-secondary pathways
• content that has a direct relationship with assumed knowledge and skills in a career pathway.

This may include:

• predicted or actual enrolments of at least 100 students per year over the approval period, either from one school or several schools
• supporting information as to how the course is designed to meet the needs of students with disability
• alternative curriculum frameworks that rely on SDBECs to meet NESA pattern of study requirements.

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Creating a Stage 6 course proposal in Schools Online generates an electronic form (eForm). Applicants use the eForm to provide details about the course.

To complete the eForm you will need the information below. It will be useful to have considered and prepared these details in advance. This makes it easier to complete the application. The eForm also includes further tips for completion. 

Applicant details

Name and contact details of the person submitting the proposal – they will receive correspondence regarding the proposal.

Course hours/study pattern

One and/or 2 unit(s) in Year 11 and/or Year 12.

Course profile

• Rationale that defines need or demand for the course.
• Appropriate course name and coherent area of study.
• Research and/or evidence base for the course.
• Future learning and/or opportunities arising from the course.

Learning outcomes

• Outcomes that describe what students should be able to know, understand and do.
• Outcomes set at an appropriate standard.

Course structure

• Number and length of topics, and whether they are mandatory or optional.
• Mandatory topics must be included.
• Topics must be between 15–30 indicative hours in length.
• Scope of topics are appropriate to the course and hours of study.

Course content

• Content aligned to learning outcomes.
• Topics provide sufficient content for the indicative hours allocated.
• Content has an appropriate body of knowledge and degree of rigour.

Sample teaching unit

For one mandatory topic – outcomes, content, teaching and learning strategies, and assessment.

Assessment plan

• Appropriate number and variety of assessment tasks.
• Relative weightings for assessment tasks are identified.

Course evaluation

• Evaluation details including when it will occur, strategies, and participants.

1. Ensure that the topic hours add up to the total hours of endorsement being sought.
2. If elective topics are included, ensure that the topic explanation section is completed to clarify how these topics fit within the overall course hours.
3. Ensure that your application has been approved by the school principal.

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Endorsed proposals

Decision letters will include the endorsement period and any conditions that may apply to the endorsement.

Deferred proposals

Decision letters will detail the specific criteria for deferring the proposal. Schools are invited to resubmit an amended proposal.

Declined proposals

Decision letters will detail the specific criteria for declining the proposal. Declined proposals cannot be resubmitted.

Lapsed proposals

For courses that were deferred and have not been resubmitted within the specified timeframe. Lapsed proposals cannot be resubmitted.

Deferred course proposals need minor amendment(s) to meet endorsement requirements.

Some reasons for deferring course proposals are:

• The application had an entry error or oversight that could be simply addressed.
• Proposed hours did not add up to the total hours of endorsement being sought (60 or 120).
• Assessment tasks did not meet requirements (as outlined above, and detailed in the eForm).

Once the amendment(s) are complete a deferred proposal may be resubmitted.

NESA will decline a course proposal when endorsement criteria have not been met.

Some reasons for declining course proposals are:

• The course outcomes and/or content duplicate or overlap an existing NESA course. For example, the proposed course may duplicate sections of an existing course(s), or the course could be conducted under the optional section of an existing course.
• The application lacked supporting evidence of a course that would provide a strong foundation for future learning.
• The application did not include sufficient evidence of predicted or actual student entries of at least 100 students per year over the approval period.
• Proposal did not demonstrate the course met the needs of students with disability, or met the need for a community language not available as a Board Developed course.
• Proposed course is of insufficient rigour and quality. The course outcomes were not set at an appropriate level, the content of the topics did not address the outcomes, and/or insufficient content was provided.

Declined course proposals cannot be submitted again.

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NESA has a process for an applicant to appeal where NESA declines a proposal, consistent with the Loading .

If a school decides to appeal NESA’s decision to decline a SDBEC course proposal, they must submit their application to NESA within 28 days of receiving NESA’s decline decision notification letter (sent to the school in Loading ).

In lodging an appeal, the school is asking NESA to:

• reconsider the evidence the applicant provided in the original application (course proposal) against the SDBEC Loading  and Loading 
• consider any new supporting evidence only where it is for the purpose of clarifying the SDBEC course proposal.

To lodge an appeal, a school must complete and submit the Loading  (DOCX 918 KB).

NESA’s Curriculum Division will consider the appeal within 21 days. A review of the original decision will be conducted by a NESA officer (or their delegate) who is suitably qualified and was not substantially involved in making the original decision.

A Director from the Curriculum Division will decide if there is sufficient evidence to change the Board Endorsement Panel’s (original) decision.

The outcome of the appeal, and reasons for NESA’s decision, will be sent to the school. 

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You can contact us by phone or email.

Call: +61 2 9367 8333

Email: curriculum@nesa.nsw.edu.au

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