Community Living Ontario

Description:  This all encompassing guide to inclusive education from the Association for Community Living Manitoba is equally applicable to parents and students in Ontario (with the exception of the relevant legislation and local policies, although similarity exist between provinces). This guide covers such areas as: inclusive school practices (including ‘Best Practices’ in inclusion), getting to know your school, laws and policies you should know, advocacy and communication through behavior (behavior intervention and discipline).  This document includes an excellent appendix, which explains the roles and responsibilities of the relevant parties in inclusive education (see quote).

Quote: “Principals can:

• Be in charge of all matters relating to organization, instruction and discipline.
• Supervise staff, students, buildings and grounds during school hours.
• Decide which classes students will be placed in.
• Provide pertinent and meaningful information about the school to parents and community.
• Ensure parents are provided with information about their child's achievements.
• Participate in hiring, assignment, and evaluation of teachers.
• Have disciplinary authority over the conduct of each student from the time the student arrives until they leave, except when the student is absent from school at the request of the parent.
• Have disciplinary authority over all students on their way to and from school including students being transported by school bus (the bus driver reports disciplinary problems to the principal).
• Ensure parents are promptly informed of a suspension and the reasons for it. Provide a written report (name, period of suspension, description of conduct) to the Board within 24 hours of a student being suspended. 
• Inspect school premises and report any required repairs to the Board.

 

Principals may:

• Request that the superintendent or other senior administration staff be present for a meeting.
• Receive advice from parents and community regarding the hiring, assignment and evaluation of teachers when making recommendations to the Board about those matters.
• Suspend a student for a period of up to six weeks depending on the direction of the Board.
• Regarding conflict resolution between a parent and the school, the principal can and should:
• Agree to meet with you about a classroom issue, if you have been unable to resolve the problem by talking to the teacher.  
• Treat you with respect and dignity. 
• Investigate your concerns and report the result of that investigation in a timely manner.
• Advise on the range of disciplinary actions that may be taken if required.
• Communicate the reasons for decisions made, within the limits of confidentiality.

 

Do not expect the Principal to:

• Meet with you without an appointment.
• Report specific disciplinary action taken against a staff member.
• Deal with abusive language or behavior.
• Deal with a classroom issue if you have not spoken to the teacher.”