Individual Education Plans: Standards for Development, Program Planning
and Implementation describes the province-wide standards that school boards must
meet when developing, implementing and monitoring Individual Education Plans
(IEPs).
Guide to the Provincial Report Card, Grades 1 to 8 includes instructions for
reporting the achievement of exceptional students whose Individual Education Plans
document accommodations or modifications to the students’ learning expectations.
Ontario Secondary Schools, Grades 9 to 12 is the principal policy document for
secondary school education in Ontario. Throughout this document, guidance is
provided on special education at the secondary school level.
Parents in Partnership – A Parent Engagement Policy for Ontario
Schools (2010)
School Effectiveness Framework – A Support for School Improvement
and Success (2010)
Program Planning and Assessment, Grades 9 and 12 includes guidance for
secondary school teachers on implementing the new secondary school curriculum for
exceptional students.
Choices Into Action is the guidance and career education policy for Ontario. The
provision of guidance and career education to exceptional students is addressed at
appropriate locations throughout the document.
Standards for School Boards’ Special Education Plans describes the province-wide standards that school boards must meet when developing their special
education plans.
Ontario Human Rights Commission’s Guidelines on Accessible Education
describe the principles of accommodation, the accommodation process, the
appropriate accommodation, accommodation planning, the undue hardship standard
and the roles and responsibilities of all parties, including education providers,
students and parents/guardians in the accommodation of students with disabilities.
Funding for Special Education
Refer to the link www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/funding for
specific dollar amounts for each grant/amount. Education funding starts with the
Foundation Grant, which gives every school board a basic level of funding for each
student. Additional funding is provided through special purpose grants, including a
Special Education Grant, based on specific costs or needs that affect some boards
and some students more than others. The operation and maintenance of school
buildings and the construction of new schools or additions are funded through the
Pupil Accommodation Grant.
The Special Education Grant (SEG) provides additional funding for students who
need special programs, services and equipment. SEG funding is enveloped, which
means this funding can only be used for those students who require special
education programs, services or equipment. The SEG includes five components – the
Special Education Per-Pupil Amount, the High Needs Amount, the Special Equipment
Amount, the Special Incidence Portion and the Facilities Amount.
Special Education Per-Pupil Amount (SEPPA) is allocated to boards on the basis of
total enrolment. SEPPA recognizes the cost of providing additional assistance to the
majority of students with special education needs.
The High Needs Amount addresses the cost of providing the intensive staff support
required by the small number of pupils with very high needs.
The Special Equipment Amount covers the cost of an individual student’s equipment
needs in excess of $800 in the year of purchase. Eligibility criteria are outlined in the
Special Education Funding Guidelines: Special Equipment Amount (SEA), 2009–10.
The Special Incidence Portion (SIP) supports pupils with exceptionally high needs
who require more than two full-time staff to address health and safety needs.
Eligibility criteria for SIP are outlined in the document entitled Special Education
Funding Guidelines: Special Incidence Portion (SIP), 2009–10.
The Facilities Amount provides funding for educational programs serving pupils who
are receiving their education through facilities such as hospitals, children's mental
health centres, psychiatric institutions, detention and correctional facilities, community
living/group homes, and other social services agencies. The provision of education in
these facilities is subject to an agreement between a district school board and a
facility.
Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) has responsibility for
provincial testing at the Grade 3, 6, and 9 levels, and for the provincial secondary
school literacy test. EQAO provides guidance to school boards concerning the
inclusion of exceptional students in provincial testing and on appropriate
accommodations that may be made for these students during the tests.
(Source:
www.edu.gov.on.ca)