Forum helps shape future of inclusive education system
Edmonton... About 1,000 parents, teachers, school authority staff, trustees, and community members from across Alberta provided input to the government on proposed changes to special education.
Education Minister Dave Hancock closed the two-day Setting the Direction Forum at the Shaw Conference Centre on June 9 and committed to take forward the proposed Setting the Direction Framework to his government colleagues. The Framework contains suggested priorities and options for the continuous improvement of the education of students that recognize that every student has assets and needs.
Hancock urged participants to listen to youth perspectives shared at key points throughout the Forum. “This initiative is about educating Alberta’s young people, and we need to listen to them,” said Hancock. “Their enthusiasm, excitement and appetite to learn are an encouragement to us all. The work ahead signifies an urgency to begin changing our attitudes from "special education" to serving the needs of all Alberta students.”
Forum discussions focused on the shared responsibility associated with the work ahead. Participants provided input in a number of areas. Highlights include:
- Putting students first through meaningful inclusion so that a sense of belonging becomes the new culture of education.
- Emphasis on the importance of a learning team that includes roles for parents, teachers, teacher assistants, service providers, and the community.
- Curriculum and resources that are designed to meet individual student needs.
- Teacher preparation, professional development and mentorship opportunities that appropriately support teachers in enabling every student to be successful in his/her learning environment.
- Collaboration between, and at, the ministry, school authority, school and service provider levels that supports the learning needs of every child.
- Developing the capacity in schools and communities to host and implement effective wraparound service programs that nurture the social, physical, and emotional needs of children so that they are appropriately supported and therefore come to school ready and able to learn.
"We have an opportunity to make a difference,” said Naresh Bhardwaj, Steering Committee Chair and MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie. “The Steering Committee’s work has taken into account the ideas and voices of the Albertans engaged with this initiative. I am happy to champion the Framework and work with my MLA colleagues to review the proposed changes.”
Over the coming months, government will review the Framework and respond to it. Deliberations from Setting the Direction will also be carried forward as part of the broader dialogue taking place through Inspiring Education: A Dialogue with Albertans. Changes to be made as a result of Setting the Direction are expected to begin implementation in Fall 2010.
The Forum brought together 1,000 Albertans at the Shaw Conference Centre and was structured as the third consultation phase of a comprehensive review of special education in the province.
Alberta schools serve approximately 596,000 students. Currently, 67,000 are defined as having "special education needs."
