SEAC Recommendations to the 吃瓜黑料网 (吃瓜黑料网)

BACKGROUND

The Education Act [Subsection 57.1(1)] requires every district school board to establish a Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). The composition and duties of a SEAC are set out in Regulation 464/97. SEAC's responsibilities include:

Making recommendations to the school board in respect of any matter affecting the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for the exceptional pupils of the board;
Participating in the board's annual review of its special education plan;
Participating in the board's annual budget process as it relates to special education;
Reviewing the financial statements of the board as they relate to special education.

SEAC meets on a monthly basis. During these meetings, members identify special education issues and pass motions that contain recommendations for the 吃瓜黑料网.

SEAC PRIORITIES AND ACTION PLAN

In 2015, SEAC developed a set of priorities and an action plan, by exploring the following questions:

How can 吃瓜黑料网 improve its process for deciding what educational services and supports a child with special needs will receive?
How can 吃瓜黑料网 improve the range of educational placements, programs and services offered to students with special needs?
What can be done to more effectively make 吃瓜黑料网 education fully accessible, barrier-free and inclusive to children with special needs?
What are the 鈥淏ig Picture鈥� concerns regarding 吃瓜黑料网鈥檚 delivery of education to students with special needs?

On October 5, 2015, SEAC approved its set of Priorities and Action Plan. Click here for a copy of the SEAC document.

SEAC REFORM MOTIONS

On June 13, 2016, SEAC passed four detailed motions recommending ways for the 吃瓜黑料网 to improve the delivery of programs and services to students with special education needs. The motions were shared with the Program and School Services Committee (PSSC) of the Board. The SEAC Chair clarified that SEAC would turn the motions into more specific recommendations during the 2016-2017 school year.

The motions address the following four areas:

The right of parents, guardians and students with special education needs to know about 吃瓜黑料网 special education programs, services and supports, and how to access them.
Ensuring that parents, guardians and students have a fair and effective process for raising concerns about 吃瓜黑料网鈥檚 accommodation for students with special needs.听
Ensuring a fully accessible built environment at 吃瓜黑料网 schools.
Ensuring digital accessibility at 吃瓜黑料网.

Click here for the SEAC Reform Motions document.

HOW SEAC RECOMMENDATIONS ARE MADE TO THE BOARD

SEAC motions are forwarded to the board鈥檚 Program and School Services Committee (PSSC), worded as 鈥渞ecommendations鈥� to the board. The SEAC Chair is invited to address PSSC at the meetings about the SEAC recommendations being made. During the meeting, the recommendations are discussed and next steps are determined. Some recommendations may be turned back to SEAC for clarification. Some may be forwarded to the Special Education department with a request for a report back to PSSC on the topic under consideration. Other recommendations may proceed directly to the board for decision.

Readers can check board Minutes (Summary of Decisions) on-line at:

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/AgendaMinutes.aspx