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Schools moving to become inclusive

An education system where the needs of all students are being met is taking shape in Central Alberta.

An education system where the needs of all students are being met is taking shape in Central Alberta.

Since Alberta Education allocated more than $500,000 in special education funding to Central Alberta school divisions in late 2011 ($12 million provincially), the local jurisdictions have moved closer to implementing the mandated inclusive education model.

The divisions have shared information through attending professional development workshops, including Ten Ways to Create Truly Inclusive Schools and Classrooms held on Thursday at the Harvest Centre in Westerner Park, and Working Together: Making a Difference in September at the Holiday Inn in Red Deer.

In most school divisions, there has been a shift where classroom teachers have taken responsibility for all students as opposed to having special needs children solely under the responsibility of the special education teacher.

There has been more co-planning and collaborative work between the special education and classroom teachers, with the ultimate aim of benefiting the student.

“We have developed learning support teams that help increase student learning and student learning goals because of the co-planning and co-teaching,” said Wanda Christensen, Chinook’s Edge School Division associate superintendent of student services.

“There’s a lot of resources and expertise that our special education teams have that will benefit classroom teachers and right back to the students.”

Sally Deck, director of special education for Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools, is quick to point out that inclusion is not a place but a way of thinking.

“It doesn’t mean all students are in regular classrooms,” said Deck. “We still have special education classrooms for students but it is a philosophy where we accept all students and all students belong.”

The local school districts used the allotted funding to purchase new classroom technology to help those students who many need a little extra support in the classroom, to create new positions in the district and for professional development.

Nicola Golby, Red Deer Public School District consultant in student services, said by having a learning support teacher and a learning support team in each public school, teachers have the support they need when challenges come up.

“We are in a journey and things aren’t going to change overnight, but slowly with one conversation, one professional development session at a time,” added Susan Parkins, consultant in student services for Red Deer Public School Division.

crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com