The IEP is an educational plan to meet the learning needs of a student and it includes:

• Specific long and short term educational expectations/goals

• An outline of the special education programs, services and other strategies, which will be used to support the student

• A detailed plan outlining how a student’s progress will be reviewed (SEAC)

An IEP is:

• A summary of the student’s strengths, interests, and needs, as well as expectations for the student’s learning during a school year.

• A written plan of action based on those strengths, interests and needs (accommodations and/or modifications; transition planning)

• A tool to help teachers support, monitor and communicate the student’s learning

• A plan developed, implemented, and monitored in a collaborative manner by school staff, the student, parent/guardian, community partners and, at times, other professionals involved with students.

• A flexible working document that is adjusted as necessary.

• A document to be used in conjunction with the provincial report card.

All teachers at JHSS are able to access a web-based program to read the IEPs for the students in their classes. Parents and caregivers will receive an updated IEP yearly no later then 30 days from the start of the school year. IEPs are a working document and can be reviewed or updated at any time, upon request. If you have any questions about your child's IEP, please contact their SERT.

Exceptional Students and IPRCs

While the regular school program is designed for the majority of students, some students require Special Education services to meet their learning needs. Where learning needs are extraordinary, an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee meeting is scheduled to make decisions about identification and placement.

A student is considered to be “exceptional” when the learning needs of that student requires ongoing Special Education assistance and, at times, changes to a student’s programming in order to be successful. According to The Ministry of Education and Training, an exceptional student is determined as such, based on one of the following five areas:

• Behaviour

• Communication

• Intellectual

• Physical

• Multiple (2 or more of the above)

The WRDSB provides a range of Special Education services for exceptional students. Many continue to participate in their classroom settings while receiving Special Education services, while other students may require placements in a Special Education classroom. The Ministry regulation governing IPRC’s ensures that the decisions of the IPRC will be reviewed at least once per school year in a scheduled IPRC review meeting unless waived by the parent(s).