SPECIAL EDUCATION ADVISORY COMMITTEE (SEAC)
The Special Education Advisory Committee provides important advice on special education to their local board or school authority.
In order to make lasting changes in the school system for inclusion, we need to join and CREATE THOSE CHANGES ourselves.
The Education Act Requires SEACs to Make Recommendations on the Provision of Special Education to Exceptional Students
SEACs must be established at each school board and school authority in Ontario. They comprise trustees and representatives of local associations - an association or organization of parents that further the interests and well-being of exceptional children or adults. SEACs make recommendations to their local board or school authority on any matter affecting the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students of the board. Although feedback from SEACs is legislated, school boards are not required to implement any recommendations made by SEACs. SEACs are also provided with the opportunity to participate in the annual review of the board's Special Education Plan and annual special education budget process. Finally, SEACs review the financial statements of the board as they relate to special education.
Special Education Programs and Services are Developed for Exceptional Students
Exceptional pupils are Ontario students who have behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities; and have educational needs that cannot be met through regular instructional and assessment practices. Exceptional students are formally identified by an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC). Exceptional students must have access to an education that will enable them to develop the knowledge and skills they need in order to participate in the life of Ontario's communities. School boards must develop an Individual Education Plan (IEP) for every identified exceptional student, and have the discretion to develop an IEP for students who have not been formally identified as exceptional but who are receiving special education programs/services. An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a written plan describing the special education program and/or services required by a particular student, based on a thorough assessment of the student's strengths and needs that affect the student's ability to learn and demonstrate learning.
SEAC Membership
The Special Education Advisory Committee for a district school board is composed of the following:
- Representatives and alternates (for representatives) from up to 12 local associations
- Each member and their alternate is nominated by their association and appointed by the board
- Local associations, being associations or organizations of parents, must:
- Operate locally
- Be affiliated with provincial organizations that are incorporated and further the interests and well-being of one or more groups of exceptional children or adults
- The lesser of 3 or 25% of the total number of board trustees (rounded down to the nearest whole number)
- Because they are elected officials, they are ultimately responsible for making decisions about special education programs and services, including the budget
- Alternates for board trustees
- Where 1 or 2 board trustees are appointed to the SEAC, each trustee has an alternate appointed
- Where the number is 3 or greater there are no alternates appointed.
- One or two persons to represent the interests of First Nations students attending board schools under a tuition agreement.
- One or more additional members may be appointed who are neither representative of a local association nor trustees of another committee of the board
- This includes support staff, supervisory staff, principals, teachers
- Support staff → support the work of the committee by taking minutes
- Supervisory staff → responsible for special education programs and services
- They are non-voting members of the committee