Admission Criteria, Student Profile, and Application Process

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Admission Criteria

(Reference Ministry of Education Policy/Program Memorandum 89)

• The applicant qualifies as a resident pupil of an Ontario school board.
• The applicant has been identified by his/her school board as having a specific learning disability which can be seen in a significant discrepancy between academic achievement and assessed intellectual ability.  The learning difficulties represented in the identification must not primarily be the result of impairment of vision or hearing, physical disability, intellectual disability, or emotional disturbance.
• An IPRC has recommended to the school board that an application be submitted to the PCLD on behalf of the student.
• The applicant has been assessed by Resource Services staff from a Provincial Demonstration School.
• The applicant is in need of a residential education program.
• The applicant is not in need of treatment for emotional or behavioural disorders.

Characteristics of Demonstration School Students:

A Composite Profile

·         Pervasive language difficulties

·         Marked weakness in phonological awareness

·         Very weak academic achievement, particularly in reading skills (mostly grade equivalents of 1 to 3) despite many years and methods of remediation

·         Spelling and writing skills far below grade expectations

·         Somewhat higher achievement in mathematical skills (mostly grade equivalents of 3 to 5)

·         Sometimes difficulties in fine- and gross-motor coordination, visual-motor integration, concentration/attention

·         At least average learning skills when information is visually, rather than language, mediated

·         Emotional reactions secondary to the chronic deprivation of success in their school histories; these could include low motivation, discouragement, embarrassment, poor self esteem

·         Most students between the ages of 11 and 15 at the time of application.

Application Procedures

School boards make the referrals upon the recommendation of an IPRC

1. Consultation Package - a Resource Services Consultant will visit the school for a consultation, assessment and/or programming - due anytime during the school year
2. Phase 1 Application Package - initial information - due May 15^th or November 15^th
3. Binder Application - binder for Provincial Committee on Learning Disabilities (PCLD) - due November 1^st or February 1^st
4. Tour the school and residence
5. A meeting with the PCLD, school board contact, school resource teacher, parents and student is held after the binders are submitted.
6. Following the PCLD meeting, a letter is sent to school boards and parents indicating if the student meets criteria.
7. In late May or June, a letter is sent indicating if a placement is available for the following school year.

If you have any questions please email me at anne.truaisch@ontario.ca or post a comment below.