School Terms to Know

What’s an IEP? And Other School Terms Ontario Parents Should Know

If you’ve ever opened a school email and found yourself wondering, What is an IEP? What’s a psychoeducational assessment? Then you’re not alone. As the school year comes along, many parents come across new — and sometimes overwhelming — words. If your child is receiving special support, you may be bombarded with even more words related to support, assessments, and services for your child. Below is a handy guide to decode some of the common jargon used by Ontario public schools: 

Education Act: The main law that governs education in Ontario, including how public schools operate, what school boards are responsible for, and what rights and responsibilities students, parents, and educators have.

Exceptional Pupil / Exceptionality: An “exceptional pupil” is a student whose needs fall into one or more categories listed in the Education Act, such as behavioural, communicational, intellectual, physical, or multiple. These needs require special education support and may lead to the development of an IEP and/or a placement decision through the IPRC.

Individual Education Plan (IEP): A written plan that outlines the special education program or services a student needs to meet their learning expectations. It includes accommodations, modifications, and/or alternative expectations. An IEP can be created whether or not a student has been formally identified as exceptional.

Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC): This is a school board committee responsible for deciding whether a student is exceptional and determining the most appropriate educational placement for them. The decision is reviewed at least once in each school year. 

Psychoeducational Assessment: A psychological assessment (sometimes called a “psychoed”) completed by a psychologist, with parental consent, to understand how a student learns and functions. It includes classroom observations, interviews, questionnaires, and standardized testing to assess cognitive, academic, and emotional functioning. These assessments may inform decisions made by the IPRC. 

Speech and Language Assessment: An evaluation by a registered speech–language pathologist to understand how a student communicates. With parental consent, this assessment looks at language use, speech sounds, voice, and fluency, and helps identify areas that may need support. Like psychoeducational assessments, these may inform decisions made by the IPRC. 

Special Education Program: An educational program that’s been modified to meet a student’s specific needs, based on ongoing assessment. It includes objectives and services, and is typically outlined in the IEP.

Special Education Services: Supports, equipment, or staff required to deliver a special education program, like educational assistants, specialized technology, or resource support.

Accommodations: Teaching or assessment strategies, supports, or tools that help a student learn or show their learning without changing what is being taught. These might include extra time, visual aids, or assistive technology.

Modifications (Modified Expectations): Changes to what a student is expected to learn in a subject or course. This could involve using expectations from a different grade level or changing the level of difficulty. In high school, this may affect credit eligibility.

Alternative Learning Expectations: Goals on an IEP that are outside the standard Ontario curriculum, such as personal care, social skills, or communication. These are used when a student requires alternative programming.

Annual Program Goals: Statements in the IEP that describe what the student is expected to accomplish by the end of the school year in a particular subject or skill area. These are required if the student has modified or alternative expectations.

Alternative Report: A report that uses written comments (rather than grades) to describe how a student is progressing with their alternative expectations. It includes strengths, challenges, and next steps.

For more information, visit the Ontario government’s Glossary of terms related to special education.

If you’re looking for support this school year, the team at Attached Kids is here to help. Reach out to book a session or learn more about how we can support your child and family.

Written by Moneeza Bandaisha MSW, RSW - Child and Family Counsellor