Special Education Plan
Requirements of School Boards Under Regulations
(as stated in the Special Education Guide)
One of the purposes of a 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. Under the regulations, school boards are required to establish Special Education Plans Regulation 306 requires that all school boards establish and maintain special education plans. In its special education plan each board is required to out-line how it intends to meet the needs of its exceptional pupils. The board must maintain the plan and ensure that it is amended from time to time “to meet the current needs of the exceptional pupils of the board”. Individual students are not identified in the plan, but the system-wide method of providing programs and services is set out.
Each school board must:
every two years, prepare and approve a report on the special education programs and services it provides;
have its Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) participate in the annual review of board plans (see pages A27–28 for further information about SEACs).
Traditionally, the ministry has sent instructions to boards in the winter about how to submit their amendments/reports and what type of information to include. The reports and amendments must be submitted by July 31 of every year. The minister has the right to require a board to amend its plan in a manner that the minister considers necessary “so as to ensure that the board provides special education programs and special education services that meet the current needs of the exceptional pupils of the board”.
School board special education plans should be available at the school board office (or at individual schools) for parents to see. The ministry has issued a policy document, Standards for School Boards’ Special Education Plans, 2000, which describes the new province-wide standards that school boards must meet when developing their special education plans.
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Special Education Plan This plan must be made accessible, in some form, to the public.
The requirements of Reg. 306 re: Special Education Plans, as outlined in Special Education Plan Standards 2000, are referenced on the Board web site. As well, details regarding the full plan can be requested from the Family of Schools Superintendent and/or Special Education Department.
Standards for Board Special Education Plans