Inclusive Education Supports and Services
Students who have been identified with diverse learning needs will be provided with appropriate assessments and Individualized Program Plans (IPP), Learner Support Plans (LSP) or Behavior Support Plans (BSP). The program of studies may be modified or adapted to meet the students’ learning needs and there will be a team approach to deliver the supports and services to the student.
Some students may not qualify for or meet the Alberta Learning criteria as students with “special education” needs but it is the intent of SPERD to offer all students quality instruction regardless of whether they qualify for a special education designation. Below are some of our common team members that work together to provide supports to our students.
Coordinators Of Student Supports
Each school within the St. Paul Education Regional Division has a Coordinator of Student Support (COSS) to consult and collaborate with school staff, parents, outside agencies, professional service providers and ministerial partners regarding students with exceptional learning needs. They may administer individual achievement tests to provide information for programming, provide support in individual, small group or whole class settings, coordinate the development of Individual Program Plans (IPPs) or Learning Support Plans (LSPs), provide instructional support and coordinate referrals to professionals or outside agencies.
Referrals are usually made by the classroom teacher or school administration to the Student Supports Department. Parents who have concerns regarding the progress of their son/daughter may access involvement of the COSS directly or through the classroom teacher or administration.
SPERD employs instructional assistants as paraprofessionals to work under the direction of classroom teachers to assist all students with academic, behavioral or personal care needs.
Supporting Services
Educational Psychologist services may be contracted for the purpose of assessing the learning needs of a student and providing programming support and recommendations for the school-based team and for the family.
Speech-language pathology services are implemented with the help of our partners in Alberta Health Services or independent private contractors to support students whose educational and/or social progress is adversely affected by communication difficulties. The speech-language pathology services include a full range of services encompassing prevention, identification and assessment, direct instruction of students (individually, in classroom settings, or in small groups as appropriate), consultation, collaboration with educators regarding the student's needs in the classroom and other school environments, in-service training, and information sharing with families.
The Occupational Therapist’s role is to provide direct and indirect support to allow students to be successful in the classroom setting. Through identification of fine or gross motor, sensory and self care areas that are impacting the student’s performance at school; the Occupational Therapist will assist the student to function with the greatest level of independence possible. We again work in partnership through the RCSD with Alberta Health Services and /or with private independent contractors to provide this service.
SPERD employs Family School Liaison Workers (FSLWs) as counselors assigned to the each school. They provide consultation to teachers and counseling services for students with social, emotional, or behavioral concerns, as well as acting as liaison with outside agencies. SPERD also works with our ministerial partners in Mental Health and/or other privately contracted services to provide support to our students. All schools also employ a Success Coach through our Together We’re Better Project supported by the Mental Health Capacity Building grant. Success Coaches provide universal and targeted programming to small and large groups on mental health topics through programs such as Fun Friends, Friends for Life, Kelso the Frog, Rainbows and Assertiveness Training.
Other professionals may be consulted on an as needed basis to meet a child’s needs and provide programming suggestions for students. This may include but is not limited to: Behaviorist, Vision Specialist, Deaf/Hard of Hearing Specialist, Audiologist, Psychiatrist, Relaxation Therapist, etc.
All Elementary schools offer ECS or Kindergarten programming. In addition to regular ECS programming, we also offer early intervention programming for students with identified needs.
Program Unit Funding or PUF is provided by Alberta Education to provide appropriate programs for children with a severe disability between the ages of two years six months and less than six years of age on September 1 and who are residents of the Province of Alberta. The funding is designed to provide services required such as paraprofessional support, speech therapy, occupational therapy, intervention programming, transportation, materials, and in-service for parents and staff. SPERD coordinates the funding and placement of the student in an ECS program. A Coordinator of Student Supports will work with the teaching and paraprofessional staff to program for the student’s needs.
