Consultation
During the consultation phase, a Resource Services teacher from a demonstration school will conference (phone, video chat, or in-person) with the school team and parents/guardians to discuss the student’s profile and academic history. The purpose of the consultation is to assist with educational programming and determine next steps. To facilitate this process, the school team submits a Consultation Memo Package (which includes consent forms) to the Resource Services staff. Consultation packages can be forwarded at any time during the school year and must be received by Nov 1st for students to be considered for programming beginning the following September.
This application package provides the Resource Services staff with information from the Ontario Student Record (OSR) as well as supporting documentation from support services staff (e.g., psycho-educational assessment, speech-language pathology assessment).
Phase 1: Demonstration School Assessment
Once the consultation package is received, it is reviewed by Resource Services staff. If appropriate, the Resource Services staff will schedule and administer an educational assessment for the student. A confidential educational assessment report for the student is provided.
Phase 2: Binder Application Memo
The binder application phase is the formal application which will be presented to the Provincial Committee on Learning Disabilities (PCLD). A school board determines if an application will be made for a demonstration school to support a particular student. This determination to apply is made through a recommendation by the school board’s Identification Placement and Review Committee (IPRC). The school board is then responsible for facilitating and submitting the application. School boards apply for the student to receive support through a placement in the demonstration school program.
The binder application contains an in-depth student profile, family history, medical information, and educational data. Based on this information and a family interview, the PCLD will make recommendations for either support within the home school or a one-year placement in a demonstration school. Interviews are conducted yearly in the spring.
The school board should ensure that the following are submitted to the regional demonstration school’s resource office:
- assessment information
- school history
- personal and family data
- a list of past interventions and alternative placements in order of priority, prepared by the IPRC
The Phase 2 Binder Application must be received by a Provincial and Demonstration School Branch (PDSB) regional office before February 1 for students to be considered for programming beginning the following September.
Application Submission
To submit an application, district school boards should contact the Resource Services staff at one of the following demonstration schools in the school board’s catchment area:
- Amethyst Demonstration School: (519) 453-4400
- Sagonaska Demonstration School: (613) 967-2823
- Trillium Demonstration School: (905) 878-2851
Submissions (five copies of the binder) are due to the regional office by February 1.