A Child’s Special Needs at School (Identification, Placement and Review Committee, aka IPRC) by Katherine Bobula, R.N., BScN, MAED
Yes, it is time to start thinking about the new school year. Summer is steadily moving away, while September approaches with speed. Many of us have already started buying school supplies. Others will wait and find themselves in the midst of chaos: parents and children frantically looking and searching around malls for school supplies.In preparation for this upcoming school year, we want to provide you with details on the process which identifies students who require special attention and services. If you feel your child requires extra help or assistance, the Ministry of Education has developed a process to address the needs of such students. The process is referred to as Identification, Placement and Review Committee or IPRC. A child designated “exceptional” via the IPRC process will have an Iindividual Education Plan (IEP) written by an educator. In order to be eligible for an IEP, a child needs to be identified and assessed first and foremost by the IPRC. The IPRC can provide the student with “special education programs” and “special education services” either wise not provided.The IPRC consists of a number of individuals including the principle of the school or school board representative, the student’s teacher, a resource teacher, a psychologist, an educational assistant or any other educator who has knowledge of the educational process or is involved with the student from an educational point.
When a parent is interested in having their child identified as requiring special services or if the school staff (teacher or principle) has approached the parents to have the child identified, the process begins with the school providing the parents with information about the IPRC. A meeting is organized with the above-mentioned people including the student’s parents. Parents are given 10 days written notice of the meeting. Parents need to be present at this meeting to ensure their rights, as well as those of their child are represented. This meeting will also provide parents with a better understand of the educational process and the educational plan for their child. Parents may also want to invite a representative to the IPRC meeting. Sometimes these meetings can be emotionally taxing and this additional party may lend some objectivity and support.Generally, the principle provides the details of the IPRC to the parents, how the child is performing in school, review the results of any testing or assessments done and provide recommendations to assist and support the child. The parents can at this point provide the IPRC with their own recommendations and ideas, including medical recommendations or psychological assessments in support of special needs. Discussions of placement options and programs will then ensue. It is important to note that the parents have the right to any and all assessment and testing results as soon as they are received by the school. In fact, the school requires the permission of the parent or legal guardian to perform any and all assessments and testing of the child.After reviewing the information provided by parents and educators, a decision is rendered by the Chair of the committee. Often the decision is made with recommendations at the IPRC meeting itself. If everyone is in agreement, the statement is signed at the IPRC meeting and the parents receive a copy. The following need to be included in the decision:
1. The IPRC has identified the student as exceptional;
2. Identification of the student’s strengths and needs;
3. Definitions of exceptionalities identified as well as the categories;
4. The IPRC’s placement decision;
5. The IPRC’s recommendations for special programs or/and services.
The parent may or may not agree with the IPRC statement and recommendations. If a parent does not agree with the statements and recommendations, they should not sign any document. A parent has the right to request in writing a further meeting with the IPRC within 15 days of the parents receiving the IPRC decision. A parent may also want to appeal the IPRC decision right away. An appeal can be file via the school board secretary within 30 days of the original IPRC decision. The person appealing must make their reasons known for the appeal.
It is important to note that the process to cancel the IPRC statement and the recommendations is lengthy. Further to the IPRC appeal process is a tribunal that will look at the child’s file and render their decision. School boards are funded according to their student population and identification process. However, having your child identified does not guarantee that the funds allocated to the school board for your child will actually go to your child. The school board has the right to allocate the funds as they see fit. Often parents hope their child will receive extra assistance they require to do their work. These new recommendations do not guarantee an extra teacher or assistant. Your child may be placed in a “special needs program” with several other children as opposed to receiving a more one-on-one support. Your child will, however receive the services outlined in the statement along with their “special needs program”. Proper review of the IPRC is imperative. Once the process has begun, it is extremely difficult to have it changed or cancelled. However, many children have been supported and helped with a proper IPRC. (http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/speced.html)