HomeMy WebLinkAboutP 120 SES - Privately Paid Profess. ParaProfess. and External Agencies
POLICY P 120 SES
TITLE: PRIVATELY PAID PROFESSIONALS, PARAPROFESSIONALS, AND
EXTERNAL AGENCIES
Date Authorized: November 2007
Last Revised: 20 May 2025 (Tier 1 Minor Housekeeping Edits)
Last Reviewed: 20 May 2025
COMMITMENT TO INDIGENOUS RIGHTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, AND EQUITY
The Board recognizes its responsibility to ensure that this policy and associated procedures promote
and protect Indigenous rights, human rights, and equity. The Board will strive to address and
eliminate discrimination and structural and systemic barriers for students, staff, and the community.
1.0 RATIONALE
To provide for collaboration with privately paid professionals, paraprofessionals, and
partnerships with external agencies.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
Please refer to Appendix A for a list of definitions of terms used in this policy.
3.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
3.1 The Board supports collaboration with privately-paid professionals and
paraprofessionals for the development and implementation of educational programs that
meet the needs of students across the District.
3.2 The Board supports the establishment of partnerships with external agencies to
supplement existing opportunities and to develop new opportunities for student success.
3.3 All partnerships and collaborations shall be intended to produce measurable benefits for
students and shall be consistent with the Board’s educational values, beliefs, policies,
and procedures.
4.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
4.1 Partnerships and collaborations shall supplement the services provided by the District's
professional and support services staff.
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4.2 Conditions of access to schools and students by partners shall safeguard staff and
student well-being.
4.3 Privately paid professionals and paraprofessionals, retained by a parent/guardian for
the benefit of their child, who meet the conditions of access, must complete a
Conditions of Access Form prior to providing services in schools.
a) Conditions of access include informed consent, proof of insurance, guarantees of
confidentiality, a vulnerable sector check, and other measures to safeguard
students and staff of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
4.4 Privately paid professionals and paraprofessionals retained by parents/guardians for the
benefit of their child, may provide observation, consultation, and demonstration in
schools. The services may be provided in classrooms, school offices, and during
school hours if mutually agreed upon and consistent with the aims of the service.
4.5 Partnerships with external agencies may provide supplemental services identified in a
Board Priority Learning plan if the method of payment is mutually agreed upon and
Board-stipulated conditions of access are met.
4.6 The Director of Education is authorized to issue such procedures as may be necessary
to implement this policy.
5.0 APPENDICES
Appendix A: Policy Definitions
6.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
The Education Act
Ontario Regulation 181/98
Ethical Guidelines for Business-Education Partnerships, 2017: The Conference Board of
Canada
OCDSB Procedure PR 555 SCO - Volunteers
OCDSB Procedure PR 535 GOV - Partnerships, Sponsorships, Donations, and Cooperative
Ventures
OCDSB Procedure PR 657 SES - Access and Services Provided by Privately-Paid
Professionals and/or Paraprofessionals in Schools
OCDSB Procedure PR 658 SES - Partnerships with External Agencies in Schools
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APPENDIX A: POLICY DEFINITIONS
In this policy,
Board means the Board of Trustees.
Collaboration means a mutually beneficial and supportive arrangement, endorsed by the school,
between a parent/guardian and a privately paid professional and/or paraprofessional to assist in the
development of educational programs that meet the needs of individual students.
College means a regulatory body established under Ontario Government regulations. Members of a
college are required by law to deliver competent, ethical, and professional services, and are
accountable to the public through their respective colleges for their professional behaviour and
activities.
District means the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
External agency means a community mental health, physical health or social service organization,
including its staff of professionals and paraprofessionals.
Paraprofessional means an individual with relevant post-secondary education or on-the-job training
who works under the supervision of a professional, including, but not limited to: art therapists,
behaviour therapists, child therapists, child and youth workers, communication disorders assistants,
physiotherapy assistants, drug and alcohol counselors, youth counselors, occupational therapy
assistants.
Partnership means an ongoing, mutually beneficial and supportive arrangement between a school
and an external agency to supplement or extend opportunities for student success, and who share
values, objectives, resources, and responsibilities to achieve desired learning outcomes.
Partner refers to an external agency or member(s) of an external agency with whom the
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board has an ongoing, mutually beneficial and supportive
arrangement to provide new opportunities for student success.
Professional means an individual who is a member of the regulated college for their profession in
Ontario, including, but not limited to: audiologists, occupational therapists, opticians, optometrists,
pharmacists, physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, psychological associates, registered
nurses, social workers, social services workers, and speech-language pathologists.
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