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independent education plan
DCHP-3 (Mar 2023)
Spelling variants:Independent Education Plan, IEP
n. — Education
a document that sets out a student's individualized pedagogical needs, goals and the indicators by which the goals will be assessed.
Type: 5. Frequency — In Canada, K-12 education is under provincial jurisdiction. As a result, the precise date of adoption of independent education plans has varied across the country's schools. Generally-speaking, IEPs were introduced in the early 2000s primarily as a measure to ensure both universal student success and the inclusivity of classrooms. They are now in widespread use in most schools in Canada (see Chart 1), especially with students who have received a medical and/or psychological diagnosis.
Quotations
2003
"As our enrollment decreases our special needs remain high. Now that classrooms can have thirty children with no rules about the number of spaces for special needs children, that makes a huge difference here."
Thirteen childcare workers deal with 72 children regularly and 52 children are on a full Independent Education Plan (IEP), meaning that some part of the student's day is different than everyone else's, she says.
"We've also got 150 students as part of the English Language Development program, previously called English as a Second Language. So when the district points out all the supports we have then we say yes but we've got lots more numbers to deal with'," said Pitre.
2005
"One of the major things people have to be aware of is that you can have your child identified as ADD," explains Ms Garbutt.
"You have to approach the school board, get them labeled and get them an Independent Education Plan (IEP). It took me to Grade 4 to get that."
Right from the beginning, Ms Garbutt showed determination in getting her son all the necessary resources he needed to succeed.
2007
Based on his age he should be in Grade 3 but he follows a lower grade plan and has an independent education plan because of his autism, said Gerlach.
"My gut tells me, although I have no proof, that because I'm making sure and holding the school accountable for my son meeting his goals and his (independent education) plan, that they don't like me and so they are taking it out on my son," said Gerlach.
2012
But Broten confirmed this week this will not apply to students with special learning needs who have a formal "Independent Education Plan." Some 17 per cent of Ontario students have been identified with special needs, according to the Education Quality and Accountability Office. Broten also said English as a Second Language courses will not be counted toward the total.
2016
In high school, he had an Independent Education Plan and some outside tutoring. Even with that, it wasn't easy and honestly, we only later realized that we didn't know the half of it. Matt kept most of that to himself.
2020
Danziger has been frustrated by the negativity toward pods because, she said, the concept is really only about "empowering parents to have educational choice at a time when it's a necessity. How fair is it for a kid with an IEP (independent education plan) or who has asthma to be trying to have a normal education right now? How fair is it for a teacher to have to do double duty as a janitor? Is that equality?"
2020
Students who use an independent education plan (IEP) will still receive a report card, as well.
"For students with IEPs, these will continue to be updated by teachers as per previous practice."
Sliwa went on to thank families "for their understanding and continued patience."
2022
Another listener sent this note: My son is an education assistant this year. He has been assigned to a 12 year old student who can only be in school for 45 minutes a day. That student is violent, angry and unable to stay focussed for long. He has threatened to kill other students. He often uses extremely abusive language. When my son tries to advocate for this child or suggest changes to his independent education plan, he's been told by school counsellors and the principal to mind his own business that this is not his job. It is an extremely difficult situation for all involved, but mostly for the child. I often wonder if trying to force these children into a system that does not work for them is the best solution.
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