What is an IPRC?

1. What is an IPRC? • Regulation 181/98 of Education Act • All school boards must set up IPRC • Identification, Placement and Review Committee • School boards must provide or purchase special education programs and services for exceptional students

2. IPRC • Composed of at least three persons • One must be principal or supervisory officer of the board

3. Role • Decide whether or not student should be identified as exceptional • Identify areas of exceptionality, using categories and definitions from Ministry • Decide an appropriate placement • Review identification and placement at least once in each school year

4. Who is exceptional? • “A pupil whose behavioral, communicational, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities are such that he or she is considered to need placement in a special education program…”

5. What is a special education program? • Defined in Education Act • Based on and modified by the results of continuous assessment and evaluation • Includes a plan (Individual Education Plan:IEP) containing specific objectives and an outline of special education services that meet the needs of the exceptional pupil

6. What are special education services? • Defined in Education Act • Facilities and resources, including support personnel and equipment, necessary for developing and implementing a special education program

7. What is an IEP? • Must be developed for a student in consultation with the parent • Specific educational expectations • Outline of special education program and services that will be received • Statement about the methods by which student’s progress will be reviewed

8. What is an IEP? • Students 14 years and older( except gifted), a plan for transition to appropriate to post secondary school activities, e.g. work, further education, community living • IEP must be completed within 30 days after the student has been placed in the program and the principal must ensure the parent receives a copy

9. How is IPRC Meeting Requested? • Principal: • Must request IPRC meeting for student, upon receiving written request from parent • With written notice to parent, refer to IPRC when principal and teacher believe the student may benefit from a special education program

10. How is IPRC Meeting Requested? • Within 15 days provide copy of board’s • Parents’ Guide to Special Education, acknowledge parent’s request and a written statement of approximately when the IPRC will meet

11. May parents attend the IPRC? • Regulation 181/98 entitles parents and students 16 years and older: • to be present at and participate in all committee discussions about the student • to be present when the committee’s identification and placement decision is made

12. Who else may attend? • Principal of student’s school • other resource people, e.g classroom teacher, special education staff, board support staff, representative of an agency, who may provide further information or clarification

13. Who else may attend? • representative of parent or student 16 years+ to provide support or speak on behalf of parent or student • an interpreter, if one is required, e.g. sign language, oral, specific language

14. Who may request that others attend? • Either the parent or principal

15. What information will parents receive about IPRC meeting? • At least 10 days in advance chair will provide written notification of the meeting and an invitation to attend • Provide notification of the date, time and place of the meeting • Ask parents to indicate whether they will attend

16. What information will parents receive about IPRC meeting? • Before IPRC meeting, parent receives written copy of any information about their child that the chair of the IPRC has received • May include results of assessments or a summary of information

17. If parents are unable to attend... • Principal arranges alternate date or time OR • Principal forwards to parent as soon as possible after the meeting, for consideration and signature, IPRC’s written statement of decision regarding identification and placement and any recommendations regarding programs and services

18. The IPRC Meeting • Chair introduces everyone and explains purpose of meeting • IPRC reviews all information about the student • Consider: educational, health or psychological assessment

19. The IPRC Meeting • Interview the student with parent’s permission, if less than 16 years old • Consider information submitted by parent or student 16 years+ • Discuss special education program/ services • Parents encouraged to participate • Make a decision

20. Placement Decision • Before placement in a special education class, must consider whether placement in regular class with special education services will: • meet the student’s needs • be consistent with parental preferences • Special education placement-requires written statement of reasons

21. Written Statement of Decision • Whether student is exceptional • Where the student is exceptional • Categories and definitions of exceptionality • Description of student strengths/weaknesses • Placement decision • Recommendations for program/services • Reasons for special education placement

22. What next? • If parent agrees with decision, sign statement • If student exceptional, board notifies principal of the need for an IEP

23. Review • Review IPRC meeting held within the school year unless parent cancels • Parent may request review IPRC meeting any time after child has been in special education program for 3 months • Review same type of information as original meeting

24. Review • Consider progress in relation to IEP with parental written permission • Review placement and identification decisions and decide whether to continue or make a new decision

25. Decision • If parent does not agree: • within 15 days of receipt of decision request a second meeting • within 30 days of receipt of decision file a notice of appeal with the secretary of the board • Notice of appeal within 15 days of decision after second meeting

26. Decision • If parent does not consent but does not appeal, board will instruct principal to implement decision