The Special Education Advisory Committee of the York Region District School Board is responsible for making recommendations to the Board with respect to any matter affecting the establishment and development of special education programs and services for exceptional pupils of the Board.
Following is a list of the York Region Special Education Advisory Committee organizations and their current representatives:
- Association for Bright Children of Ontario - York Region North
- Association for Bright Children of Ontario - York Region South
- Autism Ontario - York Region Chapter
- Children’s Treatment Network
- Community Living Central York
- Community Living Georgina
- Community Living York South
- Down Syndrome Association of York Region
- Early Intervention Services of York Region
- Easter Seals of Ontario
- Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
- VIEWS for the Visually Impaired
- VOICE for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
- York Support Services Network
The York Region District School Board includes on its SEAC representatives from the elementary and secondary school principals, the Principals of Student Services, and two Superintendents of Schools on a rotating basis. A complete list of the current members of SEAC, including staff and trustee representatives, along with contact information can be found on the Board website - SEAC Members List.
The appointment of SEAC representatives follows Regulation 464/97 of the Education Act. A local association may write to the Director and/or the Administrative Assistant in Education and Community Services to request representation on the SEAC. A letter should include the nomination and qualifications of the nominee. The Board may appoint to membership of the SEAC only those persons who qualify. Each association is entitled to one member. Where there are more than twelve associations in the area of jurisdiction of the board, the Board shall select the twelve local associations that shall be represented.
SEAC Meetings
Special Education Advisory Committee meetings are open to the publicand are usually held on the first Thursday of each month at the Education Centre - Aurora at 7:00 p.m. SEAC meeting dates are posted on the Board Calendar and are communicated to the public. SEAC members also make reports to their respective associations regarding SEAC meeting items for the purposes of providing information and receiving subsequent feedback.
SEAC Successful Practices
A Communications Subcommittee meets regularly prior to the SEAC meeting. The Communications Subcommittee provides a report as part of the regular SEAC agenda, sets goals and objectives for SEAC and annually reviews and evaluates progress. The SEAC submits the Annual Report to the Board every September. In addition, the SEAC nominates a member to sit on the Parent Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) and the Equity and Inclusivity Advisory Committee (EIAC).
The SEAC is responsible for reviewing and making recommendations to the Board with respect to any matter affecting the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students. During the 2020-2021 school year, the SEAC was engaged in the following actions:
- Reviewed the Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Resource Guide entitled “Play. Think. Talk. Feel. A User-Friendly Guide for Building Social Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder,” (anticipated second edition coming in 2021-20221 school year)
- Engaged in a presentation and review of services provided to students who are Blind and Low Vision, Deafblind, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing
- Examined the New Mathematics Curriculum and learned about the mobilization of professional learning and resources to support the implementation of the curriculum
- Analyzed the findings from the “Every Student Counts Survey”
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- Plant Services - New School Design
- Overview of the Director’s Action Plan 2.0
- Completed annual review of the Special Ed. Plan
- Reviewed the financial statements of the Board as they relate to special education (as recorded in SEAC meeting minutes, typically in May)
- Participated in the annual budget process by engaging in budget conversations, prioritizing areas of need for next year’s budget and planning a SEAC presentation to trustees as part of the public consultation on the annual school board budget. A designate from the SEAC delivered this presentation at the Board budget planning meetings.
- Expunging Kindergarten to Grade Three Discretionary Suspensions
- Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy
- Grade 9 Mathematics De-Streaming