All children can learn, but not all children learn in the same way, at the same time, or at the same rate. Meeting the diverse learning and special education needs of students means identifying needs, developing individual goals, and providing appropriate specialized services and supports in the most appropriate learning environment. The Edmonton Catholic School Division offers flexible and responsive learning environments that may include:
- Instruction and support in a grade-level classroom with same-aged peers
- Individualized instruction in smaller group settings
- A specialized classroom
- One-on-one instruction
- A combination of all the above.
When teachers use instructional practices and strategies to support student engagement, it can lead to greater achievement and success for all. Many practices used to support students with special needs will benefit all students through a universal design for learning framework that requires collaboration among students, parents, and school staff.
All students identified as having special education needs and receiving adapted or modified programming in Edmonton Catholic Schools require an Individualized Program Plan (IPP).
What is an Individualized Program Plan (IPP)
All students in Edmonton Catholic Schools who are identified as having special education needs must have an Individualized Program Plan.
IPP Development Process/Timeline
Typically, IPPs are developed at the beginning of each school year. Although some information will remain the same from year to year, many components will change from one school year to the next, including assessment data, current level of performance, functional impact of the diagnosis, focus areas and goals, transition plans, and year-end summaries.
How to Access the IPP
Parents can access Special Programs documents, including your child’s IPP in the PowerSchool Parent Portal. Accessing these documents from the comfort of home allows parents to always have access to their child’s Individualized Program Plan and supporting documents for the IPP. Access to this digital document does not replace the face-to-face IPP meeting with your child’s teacher and/or school team – this is still a critical component of the creation of these documents.
IPP Meetings
Your child’s teacher will be contacting you to be part of the team developing your child’s IPP. Although the IPP in Edmonton Catholic Schools is accessible all the time through the PowerSchool Parent Portal, it is still important to be part of IPP meetings either in-person or through Teams. IPP meetings should happen throughout the year as needed, but at a minimum, there should be three meetings: November, March and June.
Assistive Technology/ Augmentative and Alternative Communication
Assistive technology for learning helps students work around learning challenges and build on their strengths.
IPP Parent Resources
Find IPP Parent Resources
Resources
Parent Guide to Individualized Program Planning