The Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) process, based on requirements set out in Ontario Regulation 181/98 of the Education Act, is the way your child becomes entitled to “special education programs” and “special education services.”
The experience may be a bit intimidating, so the purpose of this brochure is to explain the process and outline your rights and responsibilities.
What is an IPRC?
Definitions
The IPRC Meeting
Rights of the Parent
Outcomes
Disagreement - If a parent does not agree with the decision, or is unsure, the parent should not sign the IPRC statement of decision at the meeting.
Resources
- An IPRC consists of at least three people, one of whom must be the principal of the school or a supervisory officer of the Board. Other people in attendance may include the classroom teacher, Resource or Learning Support Teacher (LST), a psychologist, an Educational Assistant, etc.
- An IPRC is the only way a student can be identified as “exceptional” and become entitled to “special education programs” and “special education services.” Your child may still be able to receive remedial help through the school if he or she is having some difficulty, but the IPRC is the official method of “legally entitling” students to special education programs and services.
- The IPRC is, therefore, the most important initial and ongoing process to which parents and/or pupils have access.
- The IPRC process involves cooperation between the school and parents to ensure that the student has the support and resources necessary to be successful and to reach his or her full potential.
- The decisions of the IPRC are reviewed at least once a year, at the request of the parent or the school.
- In this document, the term “parent” refers to parents, guardians, caregivers of students under 16 years of age, or to students 16 years or older.
- References to “days” mean school days not calendar days.
- The Education Act defines “exceptional student” as one “whose behavioural, communication, intellectual, physical or multiple exceptionalities are such that he or she is considered to need placement in a special education program by a committee.”
- A “special education program” is defined in the Education Act as an educational program based upon and modified by the results of continuous assessment and evaluation and includes an Individual Education Plan (IEP).
- The Education Act defines “special education services” as facilities and resources, including support personnel and equipment, necessary for developing and implementing a special education program, and includes an IEP.
The IPRC Meeting
The IPRC meeting itself will usually unfold as follows:
- the principal will direct the delivery of information;
- there will be discussion of how the child has been doing, what he or she does well or has difficulty with;
- the results of the assessments will be reviewed;
- recommendations will be made about what might be done to assist the child;
- the parents can come with their own list of what they would like to see; and
- participants will discuss possible placement options to get support.
- Parents must be given 10 days written notice of the actual time and place of any IPRC meeting regarding their child. The time of any meeting should be convenient to both you and the school. You may suggest an alternate time, if necessary.
- Parents are entitled to be present and participate in all IPRC discussions about a child and should make every effort to attend IPRC meetings.
- A parent has the right to have a representative present at an IPRC meeting. That representative may be present to support the parent or to speak on the parent’s behalf. (See resource list at the end of the document for ways to access organizations that may provide an advocate.)
- The parent must be provided with any information that the Chair of an IPRC obtains relating to the child, such as assessments, as soon as it is received.
- Any information submitted by a parent, such as a doctor’s diagnosis or assessments conducted by other professionals, to the Committee at an IPRC meeting must be considered by the Committee.
- All parties should share relevant information in advance of the meeting, wherever possible.
After the Committee makes its decision, the Chair must send a written statement of the decision to the parent. If everyone is in agreement, the statement of decision is often signed at the IPRC meeting and a copy given to the parent. The statement of decision must include:
- whether the Committee has identified the pupil as exceptional;
- if the Committee has identified the pupil as exceptional:
- the Committee’s description of the pupil’s strengths and needs;
- the categories and definitions of exceptionalities identified;
- the Committee’s placement decision; and
- the Committee’s recommendations, if any, regarding special education programs and services.
The Statement of Needs on the IPRC document should accurately reflect the areas in which special education support is required. There is no limit on the number of needs that may be included on the IPRC document.
- If a parent does not agree with the decision, or is unsure, the parent should not sign the IPRC statement of decision at the meeting. The parent may, by written notice to the Chair of the IPRC, request a further meeting with the Committee. That request must be given to the Chair of the Committee within 15 days of the parent’s receipt of the IPRC decision. The parent may also immediately appeal the decision.
- After the second meeting, the Committee Chair must inform the parents as soon as possible in writing whether any changes have been made to the IPRC decision. If there have been changes, the letter must include a revised statement of decision together with written reasons for the change.
- If a parent still does not agree with the IPRC decision following the second meeting, the parent has the right to appeal the decision.
- A parent must file an appeal with the Secretary of the School Board within 30 days of the original date of the IPRC decision, or if a subsequent meeting was held, within 15 days of the parent’s receipt of the notice by the Chair of the Committee that either a change in the IPRC decision has been made or no change has been made.
- A notice of appeal must state the decisions with which the parent disagrees and describe the nature of the disagreement.
The Board cannot implement a placement decision made by an IPRC unless the parent consents or the time for filing an appeal (30 days) from the IPRC decision has expired.
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Resources - www.ocdsb.ca
Additional information on the IPRC and IPRC appeal process can be found by requesting a copy of the Special Education/Student Services Parent Guide from your principal or by consulting “ The Identification, Placement, and Review Process: A Guide for Parents” on the OCDSB website.
The Statement of Needs list is available on this site.
Ontario Ministry of Education - Special Education home page
You may also refer to the Ministry of Education document titled Special Education: A Guide for Educators available on-line at:
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/general/elemsec/speced/guide.html
A list of organizations available to assist parents can be found at the back of the Special Education/Student Services Parent Guide which you may obtain from your school principal or which you may find on the OCDSB web-site. Click on the following link, and then on the document name: The Identification, Placement, and Review Process: A Guide for Parents.
You may also obtain more information by contacting a member of the Special Education Advisory Committee c/o the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board at (613) 721-1820. Names of SEAC members are also available on the OCDSB website.
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