---
title: Which boards are leaders in inclusive education?
description: "To understand how a particular board operates its special education programs, you should review its [Special Education Plan](http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/policy/os/2017/spec_ed_3.html). Special Education Plans are required of each board in the province. They detail the board's operations and, if the board has them,…"
url: "https://inclusionactionontario.ca/docs/which-boards-are-leaders-in-inclusive-education/"
updated: "2021-09-11"
category: Inclusive Education
tags:
  - inclusive education
  - Special Education
---

# Which boards are leaders in inclusive education?

To understand how a particular board operates its special education programs, you should review its [Special Education Plan](http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/policy/os/2017/spec_ed_3.html). Special Education Plans are required of each board in the province. They detail the board's operations and, if the board has them, the plans will often describe the types of special education classes they operate and how many. School board websites may also do so.

In 2020, IAO reviewed the special education plans of all the English Boards in an effort to understand which boards were operating on an inclusive model. Below you will find listed the boards that we concluded were operating with either few or no special education classrooms. If you are contemplating moving to find a more inclusive board, be sure to speak to the administration first to confirm how the board is actually operating; or if they are contemplating a change in their model to a less inclusive model.

[Avon Maitland District School Board](https://www.amdsb.ca/apps/pages/special.ed)

[Bruce-Grey Catholic District School Board](https://www.bgcdsb.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=1101062&type=d&pREC_ID=1373857)

[Halton Catholic District School Board](https://www.hcdsb.org/learning-resources/special-education/)

[Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board](https://www.hwcdsb.ca/support/specialeducation/)

[Hastings & Prince Edward District School Board](https://www.hpedsb.on.ca/community-families/services/special-needs-support)

[Huron Perth Catholic District School Board](https://huronperthcatholic.ca/programs-and-services/special-education/)

[Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board](https://www.hscdsb.on.ca/departments/special-education-department/)

[Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board](https://www.kprschools.ca/en/our_schools/resources/specialed.html)

[Northeastern Catholic District School Board](http://ncdsb.on.ca/sped.php)

[Northwest Catholic District School Board](http://www.tncdsb.on.ca/Programs/Program/SpecialEd/Pages/default.aspx#/=)

[Renfrew County Catholic District School Board](https://rccdsb.edu.on.ca/blog/2014/06/18/special-education-department-2/)

[Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board](https://www.smcdsb.on.ca/programs/special_education)

[Superior-Greenstone District School Board](https://www.sgdsb.on.ca/special-education)

[Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board](https://www.tbcschools.ca/education/special-education/programs-services)

[Trillium Lakelands District School Board](https://www.tldsb.ca/programs/special-education/)

[Upper Grand District School Board](https://www.ugdsb.ca/programs/special-education/)

[Waterloo Catholic District School Board](https://www.wcdsb.ca/programs-and-services/special-education/)

[Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board](https://www.wecdsb.on.ca/programs/students_with_special_needs)