The Ottawa-Carleton District School board offers a range of special education programs and services, including programs for gifted students, designed to enhance educational success and the welfare of special needs students. Working together in a partnership, parents and school personnel can ensure that all the learning needs of the child are met through ongoing communication, cooperation, active participation and sharing of responsibility. To speak with the Special Education/Learning Support Services Department of the Ottawa Carleton School Board, please call 613-596-8713.
Special Education
Is your child having difficulty with school? Are you confused by the special education process? Here are some websites which offer more information on where to start and what resources are available.
a) http://www.ottawaspecialeducation.org
b) http://www.eduadvocates.com/links.html
Often it can help if your child has a formal assessment (i.e. assessment reports from hospitals, from private practitioners and from other educational jurisdictions) done of their abilities. Such tests can be administered by the School Board or parents can elect to have their child tested privately and supply those results to the Board. (Many Psychologists perform psycho-educational testing at varying charges so inquire first. Private testing costs may be covered by insurance.)
A formal process called the "Identification, Placement and Review Committee" (IPRC) is the way your child becomes entitled to "special education programs and services". Information on this process can be found here. Note that parents can have a representatve present at the meetings for support or to speak on behalf of the parents. A list of organizations available to assist parents can be found at the back of the Special Education/Student Services Parent Guide. Additionally, you can hire an "education advocate" to help advocate for your child (see our Resource section).
"Non-identified" students may also have an Individual Education Plan (IEP). The IEP details needed individual accommodations for that student to meet their maximum educational potential. IEP's are particularly important for stating any accommodations (i.e. equipment, extra time, etc.) which students may require, and be entitled to, in testing situations. Please note: a child does not need to be IPRC'd to have an IEP. The IEP outlines and provides for differentiated educational programs and services needed for the student to access the appropriate education and demonstrate that learning. An IEP is developed by collecting and reviewing a mass of information about the student and includes items such as a student’s strengths, needs, past and current academic performance, future desires etc. These strengths and needs are then outlined on the IEP, along with additional information such as: significant testing results (usually academic and psycho educational testing results), basic personal information such as name, date of birth, certain medical information, any formal identification, likes, dislikes, etc. Once these have been recorded a teacher continues to develop the IEP, providing accommodations and measurable goals to follow the student’s progress. This is all done while taking into account parental/student concerns and desires. When every one is satisfied, the IEP is signed off and implemented. Again, parents may have a representative help them with this process. Additionally, you can hire an "education advocate" to help advocate for your child (see our Resource section). Please speak with the school's Learning Support Teacher or the School Principal to learn more about Individual Education Plans.
Gifted Special Education Program at Mutchmor
Mutchmor Public School offers a Special Education Gifted Program for exceptional students in grades 1 to 6. Parents call it one of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board's best-kept secrets! This school program offers gifted children a high quality, broadly-enriched program within a supportive, culturally diverse environment. Parents credit the program with keeping their child's interest in learning, providing challenges, and keeping kids excited about attending school, while providing a peer group "where it's okay to be smart." Children who attend the congregated gifted classes qualify for bussing from their home to the school.
Recognizing the need to provide an enriching learning experience, the OCDSB has provided differentiated programming for its gifted students for many years. A key programming option for gifted children is the OCDSB's congregated, or "specialized" gifted program. These classes group gifted students together full time so that they can learn with and from each other, sharing similar intellectual and creative talents and abilities. The Specialized Gifted program provides an opportunity for gifted students to work in a community that supports their individual needs. Programming reflects a variety of broad enrichment activities that support students' grade level studies.
Did you know?
- Giftedness is a recognized intellectual exceptionality in Ontario
- School boards are required to identify exceptional students and provide appropriate Special Education services to meet these students’ needs
- Parents can initiate the identification process by sending a written request to the school principal
- Gifted students are the second largest group of exceptional students in Ontario
- Students with other physical, visual, hearing, behavioural or learning disabilities may also be intellectually gifted
- Giftedness is a potential for learning, not a guarantee of academic success
- Gifted students may underachieve academically and even drop out without appropriate support
Why Choose A Specialized Gifted Class?
Every child has unique needs. Some students may choose studying in their neighbourhood school, while others would benefit from learning with students with similar intellectual and creative ability and talents as found in a specialized gifted class. These classes are successful through the use of a more in-depth, compacted curriculum, which also moves at a faster pace. The children learn organizational skills, time management and good study habits. Gifted children are different not only in their faster learning, but by virtue of their deeper interest and level of understanding and both these differences must be addressed in a successful educational situation.
Children exhibiting signs and signals such as high motivation in subject areas of interest; high creativity; boredom, and frustration, (because of already having mastered material, or because of the rote and repetition); or performing at less than at his or her full potential, might benefit from a specialized gifted learning environment.
How is a Specialized Gifted Class Different?
Students are really the strength of the whole program. They bring to the specialized classroom a wealth and diversity of talent, curiosity and a desire to learn. Specialized Gifted classes offer gifted students the opportunity to work together on a full-time basis. Being together, these students benefit from the exchange of ideas with students of similar ability. Students study the same curriculum as their grade peers, but they do so in more depth and at a faster rate. Teachers act as facilitators to help each student work towards his or her full potential and help with their social and emotional needs. The students work towards acquiring the same skills and knowledge as their peers in the regular program; however, more opportunity is provided to apply the skills and knowledge and to study topics in more depth.
Does My Child Qualify for a Specialized Gifted Class?
Gifted programming is available to students who have met the OCDSB criteria for identification as intellectually gifted via either school board or other testing (i.e. assessment reports from hospitals, from private practitioners and from other educational jurisdictions). Private testing costs may be covered by insurance and costs vary.
For further information about assessment procedures, placement, program offerings and evaluation methods see the OCDSB Special Education Fact Sheet – Gifted Program (Gifted).
Depending on your child's needs, placement in a specialized gifted program can be very beneficial. At Mutchmor Public School, we offer specialized gifted classes in English with Core French from grades 1 to 6.
Applications for the specialized gifted program are usually due in February each year.
For additional information on the gifted special education program, please see the following information sources:
1. School Board website info: http://www.ocdsb.ca/programs/se/sepr/Pages/GiftedProgram(Gifted).aspx
2. Gifted Screening and Identification Procedures: http://www.abcontario.ca/pdf/ocdsb_gifted_review/Gifted_ManualVERS6.pdf
Other resource information may be found at:
1. http://education.alberta.ca/