Frequently Asked Questions

My child has an IEP at their previous school, how do we transfer it to AB Lucas?

If your child already HAS an IEP prior to attending Lucas, there are two possibilities:

1) Your child went to a TVDSB elementary/secondary school prior to attending Lucas - Reach out to an LST and we will make sure that it is in place for this school year. The IEP should have rolled from one school to the next but sometimes it doesn't.

2) Your child went to a non-TVDSB elementary/secondary school prior to attending Lucas - The first step is to contact your Guidance Counsellor. They will ask you for supporting documentation (if it isn't within the Ontario Student Records). The process involves a review of those documents by our psychologist. The next steps taken will be dependent upon the review.

My child is struggling. How do we start the conversation to see if an IEP is needed?

At Lucas, the best place to start is with your child's guidance counsellor. The TVDSB website has information to help understand the various components of the IEP identification process. Please know, that this process will take time as there are many conversations and meetings that may need to happen.

Check out the Special Education portion of the TVDSB website

Will there be an opportunity to provide input into the IEP?

The IEP is intended to be a live document. LSTs have the ability to update the IEP throughout the year. Some reasons for updating include: a new assessment has just been completed, a new strategy should be tried (or has been tried with success but hasn't been listed in the accommodations), there is a change in program delivery, etc. At the beginning of September and February, there is an invitation for input sent to parents, students over 16, and classroom teachers.

How can my child get supports during the OSSLT?

The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) is held each spring. A passing mark is needed to earn your high school diploma (OSSD). The accommodations listed on your child's IEP will be in place for the OSSLT. Most accommodations are available to everyone (universal supports), but if your child wants to use assistive technology, they are welcome to. Please speak to your child's LST for more information.

There will be several opportunities within regular class to practice reading for inference and comprehension, practice with different structures of writing and using graphic texts.

Practice tests are unavailable at this time. The OSSLT website is: https://www.eqao.com/en/assessments/OSSLT/Pages/OSSLT.aspx

How can my child get supports during the math EQAO test?

NOTE: EQAO Math tests are not being held during the 2020-2021 school year.

Unlike the OSSLT, the EQAO math test is writing during class time, broken apart over two days. It is not a requirement for graduation.

Practice tests can be found at:

https://www.eqao.com/en/assessments/grade-9-math/students/Pages/students.aspx

What are Universal Supports?

Universal supports include a variety of high yield strategies such as, but not limited to, differentiated instruction and Universal Design for Learning as outlined in the Ministry of Education's Learning for All, 2013 document. The implementation of universal supports provides equity and fosters an inclusive environment for ALL students. There are many strategies, but some of the more common ones include: chunking instructions and assignments, frequent breaks and extra time on tests/assignments. If more strategies are needed and/or a more targeted approach is needed, please speak to your guidance counsellor.

My child is failing. What can I do?

The LST and/or guidance counsellor will be able to coordinate the necessary supports with the classroom teacher to help your child finish the necessary assignments, prepare for an upcoming test, manage deadlines or all of the above. Reaching out to the classroom teacher is also a great sign to show that you care about your child's education.