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The Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC)

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What is the IPRC?

The Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) is a formal process used by school boards to decide whether the student is exceptional and in need of special education programs and services. Using information from test and assessments, the Principal (or designate) and staff, from the school board, meet with families, and the student (if aged over 16 years) to determine whether the student meets the criteria to be identified as exceptional.

Categories of Exceptionality

There are 11categories. The categories are not diagnosis based but rather based on learning needs:

  • Behaviour
  • Communication
    • Autism Spectrum Disorder
    • Learning Disability
    • Language Impairment
    • Speech Impairment
    • Deaf or Hard of Hearing
  • Intellectual
    • Giftedness
    • Mild Intellectual Disability
    • Developmental Disability
  • Physical
    • Blind and Low Vision
    • Physical Disability
  • Multiple (meets the criteria for two or more categories)

Placement

After the IPRC has decided to identify a student as exceptional they will also make a decision about the student’s Placement. The majority of Identified student’s will receive special education programs and services in the regular classroom. Some will be congregated with other students in a self-contained class.

The Placement options recognized by the Ministry of Education are:

  • Regular Classroom with:
  • Resource Support
  • Withdrawal Support
  • Indirect Support
  • Self contained classroom with partial integration
  • Self Contained classroom all of the time

NOTE: Some school boards use different names and may have use less placement options

IPRC Decision

At the end of the IPRC the committee will write a statement that says whether the student is exceptional or not. If a student is identified as exceptional the statement will include:

  • The student’s category of exceptionality
  • The placement decision
  • A Statement of Student Needs
  • Requirement for an Individual Education Plan to be developed within 30 school days

The IPRC will be reviewed annually, usually on the anniversary of the first IPRC.

IPRC Appeal:

Parents that disagree with the IPRC decisions on identification or placement are able to appeal the decision. However, there are very strict timelines for notice to be sent to the school in writing and you if you are considering an appeal you should get more information about the process. School boards want to avoid an appeal and may be willing to have further meetings with you. If you have concerns don’t wait. Let the Principal know and send a letter to the Principal as soon as possible and within 15 days.

The information in this article has been simplified to help students and parents to understand the basic process.
For More Information:

Find the Ministry of Education, Regulation 181/98, The Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) and Highlights of Regulation 181/98 on the Ministry of Education website.

Each school board has a Parent Guide to the IPRC process and you can get a copy from your school, or on the school board website.

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