Special Education Program Pathways

The York Catholic District School Board seeks to help all students reach their full potential, regardless of how unique or special their needs may be. The Board endorses the integration of learners with a focus on providing the most enabling learning environment recognizing the need for a continuum of responses.

Our schools recognize the differences in students, and adapt programs to meet their needs. Some are exceptional and may require special programs and services. The Board will make every effort to provide such service in the students’ home schools. Where this is not possible, transportation is provided to other schools and centres where the necessary programs and services are available.


GLOSSARY OF SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS IN SECONDARY SCHOOL

CORE RESOURCE PROGRAM

  • Serves a wide variety of students with mild to moderate learning challenges in all exceptionality areas. These students may be fully integrated in the regular class with appropriate accommodations and/or modifications or may be withdrawn from class for part of each day for specialized instruction.

  • CORE RESOURCE TEACHER ROLE (SECONDARY)

EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAM

  • Serves students with a mild intellectual disability on a regular classroom register usually with age-appropriate peers. Students have a program focused to provide specialized instruction to support academic learning, daily living skills, vocational skills, social skills, independence, and transition planning. Implementation of the individualized program is a collaboration between classroom teacher and the Core Resource Teacher with additional support, as required.

FUNCTIONAL LIFE SKILLS PROGRAM (FLS)

  • The program focus is functional literacy and numeracy at the appropriate cognitive level, daily living skills, communication, social skills, self-regulation, independence, vocational skills, and transition planning. The individualized program supports ongoing needs; such as communication and physical challenges. Implementation of the uniquely designed program is a collaboration between classroom teacher and the special education teacher with additional supports as required.

  • Students are integrated in mainstream classes, and are enrolled in some FLS segregated classes (typically 1 each semester).

SOCIAL COMMUNICATION PROGRAM (SCP)

  • Serves students with a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder are enrolled in their home school on a regular classroom register, usually with age-appropriate peers. They have a program focused to provide specialized instruction relating to their environment and acquiring the full range of academic skills. The individualized program includes strategies to support academics at the appropriate level, communication, sensory-motor integration, social awareness, self-regulation, and transition planning. Implementation of the uniquely designed program is a collaboration between classroom teacher and the special education teacher with additional supports, as required. The delivery of service ranges from resource withdrawal to specialized course offerings. Student range is abilities and needs; can be credit and non-credit bearing.

  • SECONDARY SCHOOL PROGRAMMING Brochure (ASD)

PROGRAM FOR ACADEMIC AND CREATIVE EXTENSION (P.A.C.E)

  • Serves students who have been found to be intellectually advanced. (At this time, SJB does not offer this program)

SEA CLAIM

  • The Ministry of Education has made available to boards a Special Equipment Amount (SEA) application process. The purpose of SEA Equipment funding is to assist boards with the costs of equipment essential to support students with special needs. Students eligible for a claim are students with a special need, where equipment is required to support student access to the Ontario curriculum and/or an alternate program. This equipment does not exist within the school at the time the claim is submitted. Examples of individualized or shared equipment are FM systems, lifts, communication devices, and computers with assistive technology. Students who are accessinging special education supports based solely on a SEA claim are students who require special equipment as an accommodation to promote their success.

  • Physical Management Brochure

Each school is serviced by a Board resource team that supports the school staff working with these students. This multidisciplinary team includes a Special Education Consultant and/or Special Education Department Head, a Speech and Language Pathologist, Physical and Occupational Therapist, Behaviour Resource staff, and Psychologist.

Delivering an education that is appropriate to the strengths and needs of students receiving special education programs and services is the goal of all partners in special education.

Note: due to school shut-downs the Community Service hours requirement has been reduced for 2020/2021 graduates.

Planning for post-secondary destination? Please visit: SJB Student Services Post-Secondary Website