Introduction
This page covers the Ontario Ministry of Education information. Information gathered here is a result of hard work by our members and is constantly being updated. If you have information that you would like to add, please contact us.
Public
School Board Information | Special Education
| IPRCs and IEPs | Appealing the Process|
Prior
Learning Assessment and Recognition | General Information
| Eye Witness Accounts|
Click HERE for the official web site for the Ministry of Education. This should be your first stop for general information on the guidelines regarding education, and special education as set out by the Ontario Government. Here one can locate the guidelines regarding curriculum, special education, testing and many other important pieces of information. Please note that a gifted child is considered, by the Ministry as a child who has learning exceptionalities, and is such, covered under any 'special education' provisions.
Public School board information
We have compiled information on the following school boards and their policies regarding gifted education. The information that is presented here was a combination of information brought to us by participants of the Ontario Gifted Message Board (parents who have had extensive experience with their school board) and by the Ontario Gifted Executive. Please contact the executive member for your region if you have any specific questions regarding the information you see here and they will be happy to email you back.
Ottawa-Carelton Region School Board
Ottawa - Region (includes information on the Catholic School Board)
York Region District Public School Board
York Catholic District School Board
Here are a few pages from the Ontario Ministry of Education's site that we have found to be most useful:
Special Education in Ontario Update
Special Education: 'A Guide for Educators' . A thorough document which should be read by all parents of special education students. Just published by the Ministry of Education (Jan. 2002). (Many thanks to Marc for pointing it out).
Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition:
Does your child qualify to receive credit for prior learning?
Ontario Secondary Schools, Program and Diploma Requirements.
Ontario Curriculum Unit Planner This site includes some information regarding the new Ontario Curriculum.
Communicating Effectively with your Child's School. An article by J. Smutny (available in PDF format)
Gifted Learners in Ontario Enter the New Millennium: Common Sense Style? A very indepth article written by Dona J. Matthews and Elizabeth M. Smyth
Transition Planning Resource Guide This is a well written document which was prepared by ABC. This document is a valuable resource for parents of gifted children who are quickly approaching their High School years. Many thanks to Michele for passing it along to us. (available in PDF format)
Our daughter's identification and placement process
Challenging an identification or placement decision – one family’s story
James' Story. Read about how one family overcame senseless obstacles to have their highly gifted child identified as such by their school board. This story highlights the many advantages of parental persistence, knowledge and advocacy.