York Region District School

Board

SEAC OrientationRegulation 464-97

Susan LogueSuperintendent of Student Services

Lynn ZiraldoLDAYR Executive DirectorSEAC Vice-Chair

Mandate

A special education advisory committee or board may make recommendations to the board in respect of any matter affecting

the establishment, development and delivery of special education

programs and services for exceptional pupils of the board.

Opportunity to be Heard

Before making a decision on a recommendation of the committee, the

board shall provide an opportunity for the committee to be heard

before the board and before any other committee of the board to

which the recommendation is referred.

Local Association

Means an association or organization of parents that operates locally within the area of jurisdiction of a board and that is affiliated with an association or organization that is not an association or organization of professional educators but that is incorporated and operates throughout Ontario to further the interests and well – being of one or more groups of exceptional children or adults.

Membership

Every district school board shall establish a special education advisory committee that

shall consist of:

a) One representative from each of the local associations that operates locally within the area of jurisdiction of the board, as nominated by the local association and appointed by the board.

b) One alternative for each representativec) Such number of members from among the

board’s own members (trustees)

Membership

d)where the number of members appointed under clause (c) is less than three, one alternate, as appointed by the board from among its own members, for each member.

e)One or two persons to represent the interests of Indian pupils

f)One or more additional members appointed under subsection (5)

(5) For the purposes of clause (1) (f), the board may appoint one or more additional members who are neither representatives of a local association nor members of the board or another committee of the board.

Membership

2)The board shall not appoint more than 12 representatives under clause (1) (a)

3)Where there are more than 12 local associations within the area of jurisdiction of the board, the board shall select the 12 local associations that shall be represented.

Trustee

4)The number to be appointed by the board under clause (1) (c ) shall be the lesser of:a) three; andb) 25 percent of the total number of

members of the board, rounded down to the nearest whole number.

Indian Pupils Representation

Where a local board has one member appointed in accordance with a regulation made under section 188 of the act, the special education advisory committee shall include one person appointed to represent the interests of Indian pupils.

Qualifications

1)A person is not qualified to be nominated or appointed under section 2 or 3 to a special education advisory committee of board unless the person is qualified to vote for members of that board and is resident in that area of jurisdiction

2)A person is not qualified to be nominated or appointed under section 2, 3, or 4 if the person is employed by the board.

Disqualifications

A member of a special education advisory

committee vacates his or her seat if he or she:a) is convicted of an indictable offence;b) absents himself or herself without

being authorized by resolution entered in the minutes from three consecutive regular meetings of the committee; or

c) ceases to hold the qualifications to be appointed to the committee.

Quorum

1)A majority of the members of a special education advisory committee is a quorum, and a vote of a majority of the members present at a meeting is necessary to bind the committee.

2)Every member present at a meeting, or his or her alternative attendance when attending the meeting in his or her place, is entitled to one vote.

Election Chair and Vice-Chair

1) The members of the committee shall, at their first meeting, elect one of their members as chair and one of their members as vice – chair.

2) The vice – chair shall assist the chair and shall act for the chair at meetings in his or her absence.

3) The chair, or in the absence of the chair, the vice – chair, shall preside at meetings.

4) If at any meetings the chair and vice – chair are not present, the members present may elect a chair for that meeting.

5) The chair may vote with the other members of the committee and any motion on which there is an equality of votes is lost.

Meetings

The committee shall meet at least 10 times in each school year.

Personnel and Facilities

The board shall make available to its special education advisory committee the personnel and facilities that the board considers necessary for the proper functioning of the committee, including the personnel and facilities that the board considers necessary to permit the use of electronic means for the holding of meetings of the committee in accordance with the regulations made under section 208.1 of the act.

Orientation

Within a reasonable time after a specialeducation advisory committee is

appointed, the board shall provide the members of the committee and their alternates with

information and orientation respecting:

a) The role of the committee and of the board in relation to special education; and

b) ministry and board policies relating to special education.

Systemic Advocacy

To examine existing policies and practices in order that changes can be made to those that are

detrimental to vulnerable people or which put barriers in the way

of their autonomy and independence.

The primary roles of a SEAC Rep. are:

• To be well informed about the work of SEAC, the expectations set out for SEAC by legislation and the school board’s Special Education Plan

• To act as a systematic advocate;• To ensure that all exceptional students

within the board are served appropriately;• To ensure that the school board fulfills its

legal obligations relating to the delivery of special education programs and services and to reporting to the MET;

The primary roles of a SEAC Rep. are:

• To represent effectively the organization by whom he/ she was nominated to the SEAC and the exceptional children served by that association;

• To participate in other school board activities including the delivery of professional development training and systemic advocacy activities.

A SEAC Rep. is NOT there to:

• Focus on the personal situation of his/ her exceptional child;

• Focus on any one individual child or situation;

• Blame the school board for everything

• Defend the school board against legitimate concerns raised about service delivery.

A SEAC Rep needs to know…

• All relevant parts of the legislation, including regulations and key policies, relating to the delivery and funding of special education programs and services to all exceptional students;

A SEAC Rep needs to know…

• The definition of relevant terms, such as exceptional pupil, special education programme, special education service, IEP, the categories and definitions of all exceptionalities, not just the one that he or she is representing the range of placement options available to exceptional students, not just those available to his or her school board;

• All relevant information relation to his or her school board’s Special Education Plan;

A SEAC Rep needs to know…

• An overview of the school board budget and the details of the board’s special education budget;

• All relevant processes for fulfilling the SEAC’s advocacy mandate;

• All desirable skills for achieving the SEAC’s mandate;

• Rules of Parliamentary process.

Sample Agenda

1. Approval of Agenda2. Approval of Minutes3. Moment of Reflection 4. Special Announcements5. Business Arising (10 minutes)6. Presentation - Intensive Behaviour Intervention

for Preschool Children with Autism 7. Report from the Board8. Special Education Plan/Report9. Communications Sub-Committee Update 10.Challenges/ Successful Practices from

Associations11.Future Topics for the next meeting12.Adjournment

Preparing Motions

• Prepare motions in writing in advance if at all possible, and arrange for another person to second the motion in advance of the meeting.– A motion sheet should be provided which reads, “Moved

by… Seconded by… That SEAC recommends to the board that…”

– Do not discuss the motion before making it.• Once the motion is made and seconded, then it

can be discussed.• When the motion is under discussion you, as

well as anyone else discussing the motion, should state where you stand on the motion– For example: “I support this motion for the following

reasons” or “I speak against this motion for the following reasons”.

Role of the Chair

• To Educate• To Facilitate• May vote on any item• There are limits to the

debate of the chair

Role of the Chairperson

• Do homework• Encourage participation• Quell outbursts and curb long-

windedness• Must read body language comments• Protect speakers against attack• Clarify points and lead group to

predetermined objective• Act as facilitator, motivator, leader

Role of the Chairperson

• Use skills to:ListenSpeakDelegateSet goalsDirectControl

• Characteristics: Be patient Be

understanding

Meeting Dynamics

Chairperson controls the meeting by:– Making rules clear to everyone– Following through – not allowing one member

to monopolize– Being blunt to offenders – but after the

meeting is over– Avoiding antagonizing the whole group by

allowing offender to monopolize– Not becoming emotionally involved– Involving everyone– Allowing members to express their opinion first

Legislative Process

• History• Education Act• Regulations• Policy/Program Memorandum

Expectations

The board shall ensure that its special education advisory committee is provided with the opportunity to participate in the board’s Annual Review, under Regulation 306 of the revised regulations of Ontario, 1990, of its special education plan.

The board shall ensure that its special education advisory committee is provided with the opportunity to participate in the board’s Annual Budget Process under section 231 of the act, as that process relates to special education.

The board shall ensure that its special education and advisory committee is provided with the opportunity to review the financial statements of the board, prepared under section 252 of the act, as those statements relate to special education.

Special Education PlanRegulation 306

Table of Contents

•Section A: Introduction•Section B: Ministry and Board Directives•Section C: Service Delivery Models by Exceptionality•Section D: Support Staff and Services•Section E: Intervention Strategies and Procedures•Section F: Transitions•Section G: Professional Development•Section H: Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)•Section I: Health Support Services•Section J: Appendices

http://www.yrdsb.ca/Programs/SpecEd/Pages/SpecEdPlan.aspx

Topics to be Addressed in the Special Education

Plan• Annual Review

Process• SEAC• Early Identification

Procedures (PPM11)• IPRC Process (Reg.

305)• Educational and

Other Assessments• Categories and

Definitions of Exceptionalities

• IEPs• Special Education

Programs and Services for Exceptionalities

• Support Personnel• Staff Development Plan• School Health Support

Services (PPM81)• School Support• Accountability

Structure

Overview: 2014-2015 Special Education Grant (SEG) Funding in Context of GSN and Other

Funding

+ School Foundation Grant + Debt Service Support+ Pupil Foundation Grant+ 12 Special Purpose Grants (includes SEG & Transportation Grant)

Educationa Programs Other (EPO) & Other

Investments

Educationa Programs Other (EPO) & Other

Investments

Other Funding:Isolate Boards (School Authorities) and S.68 Hospital BoardsProvincial and/or Demonstration SchoolsTuition Agreements

Other Funding:Isolate Boards (School Authorities) and S.68 Hospital BoardsProvincial and/or Demonstration SchoolsTuition Agreements

SIP (Special Incidence Portion) - Claims

BEA (Behaviour Expertise Amount) – Base and Enrollment

SEA (Special Equipment Amount) – Per Pupil Amount and Claims

HNA (High Needs Amount) – 75% old HNA PPAs; Larger Special Education Statistical Prediction Model and Measures of Variability; a new HNA for

Collaboration and Integration of $450,000

FA (Facilities Amount or S.23) – Educational Programs in Care and/or Treatment, Custody and/or Correction Facilities – Program approvals

331,532* students reported by DSBs & isolate boards (School

Authorities)

*2012-2013 statistics

331,532* students reported by DSBs & isolate boards (School

Authorities)

*2012-2013 statistics

Approx. 5,000 CTCC students (not included in the 331,523

(not students of a board or SA)

Approx. 5,000 CTCC students (not included in the 331,523

(not students of a board or SA)

Special Education Funding

• Pupil Foundation Grant• Special Education Per Pupil Amount (SEPPA)• High Needs Amount (HNA)– Measures of Variability (MOV)– Special Education Statistical Prediction Model

(SESPM)

• Special Equipment Amount (SEA)• Special Incidence Portion (SIP)• Behaviour Expertise Amount (BEA)• Facilities Amount (FA)

Productive Team Characteristics

The team has clear and agreed upon goals Team members depend on and support one

another The whole team meets together frequently Each person on the team has some influence Each person on the team has specific areas of

responsibility Each person on the team finds the

association personally rewarding The team has frequent decision making

opportunities

Team

Together everyone achieves more

Organizational Websites

Minister’s Advisory Council on Special Education (MACSE) @

http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/abcs/acse/acse_eng.html

Provincial Parent Association Advisory Committee (PAAC) on SEAC @

http://www.paac-seac.ca/ Email: info@paac-seac.ca

SEAC Handbook

• Section 1 - SEAC• Section 2 - Overview• Section 3 - Self-

Assessment• Section 4 - Operational

Procedures• Section 5 - Special

Education Plan• Section 6 - Regulations• Section 7 - Special

Education Fundinghttp://www.yrdsb.ca/Programs/SpecEd/Documents/SEACHandbook/SEACHandbook.pdf

The Power of One

I am only oneBut I am still oneI cannot do everythingBut still I can do somethingAnd because I cannot do everythingI will not refuse to doThe something that I can do