Special Education Report Released

A report released today will help government meet its commitment to develop a multi-year plan for supporting students with special needs.

The Special Education Implementation Review was prepared by a committee made up of special education teachers and workers, parents and others interested in this area. The review is one of the broadest of its kind in Canada. It addresses issues like the need for better communications, professional development, individual program planning, accountability, parental involvement, inter-agency collaboration and funding.

"Supporting children with special needs is a national issue and a priority of this government," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "The work of the committee will go a long way toward helping prioritize initiatives here in Nova Scotia and will help address challenges faced by educators and the department."

More than 1,300 written submissions and feedback from 47 focus group sessions with over 560 participants are incorporated in the report.

The report states that Nova Scotia has the highest number of teacher assistants per capita in Atlantic Canada. At the same time, more resource teachers, speech language pathologists and other professionals are needed.

"We will review these staffing numbers very carefully as we develop a long-term plan," Ms. Purves said. "We have to look at ways to train and retain the professionals with the competencies we need to work with students with special needs."

The report also requests significant additional funding for special education. Government increased special education funding to school boards by $3 million this year and, while there are many funding pressures being faced by the department, the report will be used to help develop budget priorities for the next several years.

Beyond the funding issue, Ms. Purves said the department has already made progress on some of the report's recommendations, particularly with professional development.

Teachers received training this year in cooperative discipline to help address behavioral issues in schools. This fall, St. Francis Xavier University will offer masters-level courses for resource teachers and other teachers who work with children with special needs. The courses were developed in collaboration with the Department of Education and two school boards.

The minister thanks the committee members and the many parents, teachers, other professionals and students who took part in the consultation.

The report will be available on the government's Web site, at www.ednet.ns.ca . Copies will also be in public libraries throughout the province.

In 1996, the Department of Education announced a new special education policy and began implementing it. After four years, a review of the policy implementation has been undertaken. A 22- member committee, made up of special education teachers, workers and parents and others interested in this area, was formed to conduct the review and develop recommendations on the policy.