Inclusive Education

Prince Edward Island aspires to be a leader in creating an inclusive learning environment where all students can be supported appropriately in safe and caring learning environments.

For our public education system to be successful, we need to ensure a continuum of supports are available to meet the needs of diverse learners and help them reach academic success and independence. We also need to provide educators and school staff with appropriate resources and professional development opportunities so that they may continue to meet to needs of our learners.

What is inclusive education?

Inclusive education is a commitment to provide equitable educational opportunities to all students.

Who is inclusive education for?

Inclusive education is for all students with specialized services for students with exceptional educational needs.

What does inclusive education look like in the classroom?

Island classrooms are increasingly diverse, with a variety of behavioural, medical, and educational needs.  Some students require specialized supports to meet their fullest potential.

Inclusive education specialists provide consultation to principals, resource teachers, and classroom teachers to support students with exceptionalities.

Services include:

• coordinating special needs assessment profile meetings
• collaborating with outside agencies as well as school- and branch-based teams
• consultative services including individual student programming, assessment, transition planning and support with the development of individual education plan/transition action plan
• coordinating supports for students with complex medical needs
• supporting resource model development in schools
• consulting with schools and student services teams
• arranging special transportation for students
• collaborating in behavior support plan meetings
• supporting alternate programs

Why is the model being reviewed?

The last report to be published, the Report of the Review of Special Education in Prince Edward Island, was in 1998. This led to the Minister’s Directive on Special Education in 2001. Since then, significant changes to our understanding and expectations for student supports with special educational needs have happened. Island schools are challenged to support the increasingly complex needs of our diverse student population. As a result, the Joint Committee on Teaching and Learning Conditions was created and requested the review be undertaken.

When did the review take place?

A consultant was hired in November 2022 to undertake the review and make recommendations. The report, Better Together, was submitted in November 2023. From this, a draft Inclusive Education Action Plan was developed in both English and French. Education partners and members of the public are invited to provide their feedback.

Who has been involved in the review?

An extensive list of stakeholders provided input during the review, including: 

Education Committees

• Joint Committee on Teaching & Learning
• Student Services Committee 

Education Authority Personnel

• Director of PSB
• Student Services Director
• PSB Director of Human Resources
• Manager of Policy and Planning and FOIPP Coordinator
• Director of EAL
• CSLF Superintendent
• Student Services Coordinator
• Directeur des services administratifs et financiers 

Government of PEI

• Student Well-being Team Education Lead 
• Director of English Program & Services 
• Director of French Programs & Services 
• Manager of English Programs
• Coordinator of English Programs & Services 
• Director of Early Childhood Development 
• Early Childhood Resource Coordinator 
• Children with Complex Needs Coordinator
• Autism Coordination Act Lead 
• Program Manager Arts, Media, and Community Studies

Education Partners

• Faculty of Education, UPEI
• Co-coordinator of the Early Literacy and Numeracy Outreach Project
• Office of the Child & Youth Advocate
• CUPE 3260 
• PEITF
• CSLF and PSB School Administrators

What data was used to inform the consultant’s report?

In addition to stakeholder interviews, an extensive survey process was developed and completed.

The review also relied on various sources of provincial data and information, including data and information from the Public Schools Branch, La Commission scolaire de langue française, Joint Committee for Teaching and Learning Conditions, PEITF Class Composition Information, PEI Department of Education & Early Years, PEI Department of Health, Student Well-Being Team and PEI Bridge Program.

What are the key findings of the review?

The review notes that PEI’s public education needs a well-resourced and well-designed inclusive education system that will support all teachers and students. This will require updating our continuum of supports and services.

The continuum will accommodate people with diverse abilities and needs in various settings, such as education, workplaces, or communities, emphasizing that inclusivity is not a one-size-fits-all approach but rather a spectrum that accommodates the varying needs of individuals.

Recommendations focused on policy and process development and leadership in the following areas:

• Establishing the Foundation for Inclusion
• Develop and Provide Professional Learning & Support for Inclusion 
• Building Responsive Classroom Interventions & Supports for Inclusion 
• Targeted Interventions and Supports for Inclusion 
• Enhanced Specialised & External Supports for Inclusion

Who developed the Inclusive Education Action Plan?

The finalized action plan is expected to follow consultations in Fall 2024.

What are the next steps?

The public education system and general public are being asked to review the draft inclusive education action plan and submit comments to educationpolicy@gov.pe.ca by September 30, 2024.