Special Education

SEAC – Special Education Advisory Committee

SEAC is made up of local representatives of provincial associations, two local school trustees and interested local community representatives. Monthly meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month throughout the school year, and are open to the public.

Caregiver Guide to Special Education (PDF)

The purpose of this parent/caregiver guide is to provide you with information about the Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC), and to set out for you the principles involved in identifying a student as “exceptional”, deciding the pupil’s placement, or appealing such decisions if you do not agree with IPRC.

Special Education Plan (PDF)

School boards are required by the Ministry of Education to maintain a Special Education Plan, to review it annually, to amend it from time to time to meet the current needs of its exceptional students and to submit any amendments to the Minister of Education for review. The School Board’s Special Education Plan is to inform the Ministry of Education and the public about special education programs and services that are provided by the board in accordance with legislation and ministry policy on special education.

SEAC Brochure (PDF)

Student Support and Program Services Staff

There are many different support staff that work in the Student Support and Program Services Department that provide support for students who are struggling in different ways in our schools, including the Special Education Department. Members of the Special Education Department include Itinerant Teachers who travel between schools to work with students, and Special Education Consultants who make recommendations about programming, strategies and resources for students with all types of special needs who require accommodations, modifications or alternative curriculum. Special Education Consultants also work with school staff to submit claims for specialized equipment (e.g. Special Equipment Amount – SEA) and submit requests for Special Incident Portion funding (SIP).

Special Education on the Ontario Ministry of Education website

Students who have behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities, may require special education programs and /or services to benefit fully from their school experience. The Ministry of Education’s website has a wealth of information and resources on Special Education programs in Ontario schools.