Special Education in the Calgary Board of Education

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Special Education in the Calgary Board of
Education

• Presented by
• Debra Caso-Rohland
• Pat Loewen

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Student Services Specialist

• Responsibilities
• assist schools with the allocation of resources
  which support inclusion

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Agenda

• Provincial, System, CBE perspectives for
  education
• Special Education within CBE
• Statistics
• Standards for Special Education
• Types of Supports
• Process to Support Special Education

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Alberta School Act

• Preamble
• WHEREAS the best educational interests of the
  student are the paramount considerations in the
  exercise of any authority under this Act

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Mega-End of the CBE

• Each student in keeping with his or her
  individual abilities and gifts, will complete
  high school with a foundation of learning to
  function effectively in life, work and continued
  learning.

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CBE Program Options

• At the CBE students of all ages are given
  opportunity to participate in a variety of
  programs that recognize the distinct ways that
  students learn while supporting their interests
  and abilities.

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Definition of Special Education

• students with special needs means
• students described in section 47 of the School
  Act as being in need of special education
  programs because of their behavioral,
  communicational, intellectual, learning or
  physical characteristics, or
• students who may require specialized health care
  services,
• students who are gifted and talented.

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About Special Education in the CBE

•  In 2006, 16,996 (18.5) of the students in CBE
  were identified with special education needs.
  This is significantly above the Alberta Education
  estimated provincial average of 12.
• 13,225 students attended regular community school
  classrooms

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Special Education in CBE

• 2,783 students were supported in specialized
  programs in community schools
• 988 students attended unique schools
• In the past 10 years, there has been a 269
  increase in the number of students with special
  education needs

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Number of Special Education Students
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How CBE supports Special Education Students

• School board requirements, in serving students
  with special needs, include services in the
  following four areas
• Access
• Students with special needs are entitled to have
  access in a school year to an education program
  in accordance with the School Act. Students with
  special needs receive adapted/modified programs
  that enable and improve learning.
• Appropriateness
• Educational programs and services are designed
  around the assessed needs of the student and are
  provided by qualified staff who are knowledgeable
  and skilled.

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Special Education in CBE

• Accountability
• Timely, fair and open processes protect the
  rights of students and parents and address
  differences of opinion about the education of
  students with special needs
• Appeals
• The obligation to answer for the execution of
  one's responsibilities as it relates to
  reporting, monitoring, evaluation, and
  participation.

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Standards for Special Education

• Our work of is guided by the Standards for
  Special Education (June 2004 ), Alberta
  Education.
• In the Standards for Special Education, special
  education refers to the education of students
  with mild, moderate, or severe disabilities
  and/or those who are gifted and talented.
• It is founded on the belief that all children can
  learn and reach their full potential given
  opportunity, effective teaching and appropriate
  resources.

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Types of Supports
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Process to Support Special Education
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Supports for Special Education

• Instruction, rather than setting, is the key to
  success and decisions related to the placement of
  students are best made on an individual basis in
  a manner that maximizes their opportunity to
  participate fully in the experience of schooling

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Supports for Special Education

• We provide support through
• Consultation
• Student Programming
• Program Renewal Best practice/Current Research
• CBE Regulations and Learner Expectations
• Alberta Education Standards for Special Education
  
• Collaborative Health Services/Student Health
  Partnership

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Supports for Special Education

• Assessment
• Students
• Programs
• Services

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Supports for Special Education

• Professional Development
• School Staff
• System Personnel
• External Agencies and Organizations