Special Education
At WNSS we accommodate the needs of students who are identified with an exceptionality. Identified students will receive withdrawal support through the Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT) and their Individual Education Plan (IEP). Some students will be assigned a Resource period, which is a non-credit class where students will be provided with assistance for their assigned classes as needed. At WNSS, we also offer enrichment opportunities to interested students. Parental input is valued and is always welcome.
Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT)
All identified students who have been identified with an exceptionality through an Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) are automatically assigned to a Special Education Resource Teacher (SERT).
The SERT does the following:
1. Works directly with students in the Student Learning Commons along with the Student Success teacher.
2. Monitors the progress of a caseload of both identified (exceptional) and non-exceptional students on an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
3. Develops and maintains a student's IEP in consultation with the student, the parents, and teachers.
4. Assists students in becoming better aware of their learning needs and strengths and encouraging them to use compensatory strategies.
5. Is a contact for the student's parents.
6. Supports regular classroom teachers.
7. Conducts an IPRC meeting for each identified student annually.
8. Accommodates students' needs in testing situations (tests, exams and provincial assessments).
Individual Education Plans
According to the Ontario Ministry of Education, an
IEP is a written plan describing the special education program and/or services required by a particular student. It identifies learning expectations that are modified from or alternative to curriculum policy and/or any accommodations and special education services needed to assist the student in achieving their learning expectations.
The IEP also helps teachers monitor the student's progress and provides a framework for communicating information about the student's progress to parents and to the student. The IEP is updated periodically to record any changes in the student's special education program and services that are found to be necessary as a result of continuous assessment and evaluation of the student's achievement of annual goals and learning expectations.
At WNSS, IEPs are sent home at the beginning of the semester one for parents' consultation and a signature once finalized.
Glossary of Terms
Plans put in place to assist a student within the range of grade expectations. Some examples are preferential seating and extra time to write tests.
Plans put in place to assist a student with working on alternative course expectations. Note: this may impact credit outcome.
A committee that initially determines a student's identification and placement; a committee that annually reviews a student's identification and placement.
There are twelve definitions of exceptionalities described by the Ministry of Education. They include:
- Autism
- Behaviour
- Blind and Low Vision
- Deaf and Hard of Hearing
- Developmental Delay
- Giftedness
- Language Impairment
- Learning Disability
- Mild Intellectual Disability
- Multiple Exceptionalities
- Physical Disability
- Speech Impairment