Accommodations
: Specific and individualized instructional, environmental and assessment strategies, required for a student to meet curriculum expectations for a grade/course. Examples of accommodations include: extra time for tests/assignments; scribing of answers; use of assistive technology; preferential seating; chunking of information; frequent breaks; and human resources. Specific accommodations are also permitted for provincial EQAO assessments. EQAO distributes guidelines yearly, regarding the permitted accommodations.
Alternative Program
: In response to a student’s need, individualized alternative programming is developed and taught for the acquisition of knowledge and skills that are not part of the Ontario curriculum. Examples of alternative programs may include: social skills, self-help/personal skills and/or personal care programs. Alternative programming is individualized and documented on a student’s IEP. Alternative programming goals are assessed, communicated at reporting periods and regularly revised.
Alternative Report Card
: School board generated report card for the reporting of Alternative Program Learning Expectations, used for students who are only working on Alternative Programming goals. Some boards use the Provincial Report Card Addendum to report on Alternative Programming.
Annual Program Goal(s)
: A reasonable, overall goal for each modified subject and/or alternative program, determined from the student’s current level of achievement, which the student can reasonably attain in the course of the year.
Assessment Methods
: Part of modified and alternative IEP programming that indicates how each specific learning expectation will be assessed.
Individual Education Plan (IEP)
: A written plan for learning, developed for students with special needs, who may or may not be formally identified as exceptional. The IEP outlines special education programming with accommodations and/or modifications of curriculum. The plan may also include alternative programming and transition plans.
Modifications
: Adjustments to the grade-appropriate curriculum expectations to better fit a student’s specific educational needs. Modifications are documented on the IEP and in elementary schools for language and math often utilize curriculum of a different grade level. In other subjects and at secondary schools, modifications usually involve changing the number and/or complexity of the regular curriculum. A student receiving a modified program may also receive accommodations.
Provincial Report Card
: Ontario Ministry of Education-generated report card template with elementary and secondary versions for the reporting of student achievement per subject area. The IEP box is marked only when the student is working on modified programming of the indicated subject. The Provincial Report Card is used in all publicly-funded schools in Ontario.
SMART Goal Setting
: An acronym often used in the development of modified and alternative learning expectations to ensure they are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Reasonable and Time limited.