HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 508 CUR - Supervised Alternative Learning-1- PR.508.CUR
PROCEDURE PR.508.CUR
TITLE: SUPERVISED ALTERNATIVE LEARNING
Date issued:
Last revised:
Authorization:
28 May 2018
Senior Staff: 05 April 2016
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To outline the process for Supervised Alternative Learning.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
In this procedure,
2.1 Community Representative means a community member who is not a Board of
Trustee member or an employee of the District.
2.2 District means the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB).
2.3 Primary Contact Person means an employee of the District assigned to carry out the
functions of the Supervised Alternative Learning in respect of the student.
2.4 School Day refers to a day that is within a school year and is not a statutory holiday.
2.5 Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) refers to an individualized learning program or
alternative learning experience to provide students who have significant difficulties with
regular school attendance to progress toward obtaining an Ontario secondary school
diploma or achieving his or her other education or life goals.
2.6 Supervised Alternative Learning Committee (SAL Committee) refers to a
Committee established by the Board of Trustees for the purpose or reviewing all SAL
applications. The Committee shall review circumstances of each application to ensure
that the proposed program is appropriate to the student’s needs and interests.
2.7 Supervised Alternative Learning Plan (SAL Plan) refers to a plan developed for a
SAL student which includes the students educational and life goals, an outline of
activities the student will participate in and contact information for those supporting the
SAL.
2.8 Student refers to a student of the District that is at least 14 years old and no older than
17 year of age as of December 31 of the current school year.
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3.0 RESPONSIBILITY
3.1 Director of Education, Superintendents of Instruction and school principals.
4.0 PROCEDURE
Purpose
4.1 The SAL may be offered only if all other retention strategies to re -engage a student in
continuing their education have not succeeded. Prior to the development of an
application for a SAL, the school and District will make every effort to use their various
retention strategies to help a student stay in school (see Appendix A, Checklist of Pre-
SAL Procedures).
Specific Directives
4.2 Should the efforts made by the school and District not result in the student re -engaging
in school and the decision is made that the student would benefit from a SAL, an
application will be developed by the Primary Contact Person in consultation with the
principal.
4.3 A parent/guardian, a student who is at least 16 years of age and has withdrawn from
parental control, or a principal may make a request for a SAL. If the principal requests a
SAL, the parent/guardian should be in support of the application. If the parent/guardian
is making the request for a SAL application, no more than two requests will be made per
year and a second request will not be made until a minimum of 60 school days has
passed since the day of the previous request.
4.4 The SAL application package will include:
a) A form signed by the parent/guardian requesting Supervised Alternative Learning
and consenting to the release of student information (Appendix B, Request for
Supervised Alternative Learning);
b) The SAL Plan (Appendix C, SAL Plan) including the following information:
(i) The student’s own educational and other life goals;
(ii) A description of the activities in which the student will participate under the
SAL. The Plan will include one or more of the following activities:
(A) Enrolment in one or more course(s) or class(es) in which the
student may earn credit(s);
(B) Enrolment in a non-credit life skills course or other course;
(C) Preparation for employment and development of general
employment skills;
(D) Training for a specific job or type of employment;
(E) Full time or part time employment;
(F) Counselling;
(G) Volunteering;
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(H) Any other activity with the potential to help the student achieve their
identified goals in part (i);
(iii) The name and contact information of the Primary Contact Person;
(iv) The way’s which the Primary Contact Person will monitor the student's
progress;
(v) The ways in which the student will be helped with their transition from SAL
after the SAL Plan expires;
(vi) The expiry date of the SAL Plan. The expiry date will be no later than June
30 in the school year the Plan is established for;
c) Employer Agreement and Student Agreement for a Non -Credit SAL Work
Placement, if applicable (see Appendix D, SAL Employer Agreement and
Appendix K, Student Agreement for a on-Credit SAL Work Placement);
d) Credit Counselling Summary;
e) Other documentation that is relevant to the SAL Committee’s decision, including
but not limited to:
(i) attendance record;
(ii) Individualized Education Plan; and
(iii) English Language Learner Plan (ELL).
f) Primary Contact Person information for the student who will be confirmed by the
Committee.
4.5 The principal has fifteen (15) school days from the receipt of a request for a SAL in
which to submit the application package to the SAL Committee. The student is legally
required to continue attending school until the Committee rend ers its decision.
Notice of Referral and Referral Process
4.6 Before a referral is sent to the SAL Committee, the principal will provide the
parent/guardian of the student the following written information:
a) Notice of his/her intention to refer the student to the Committee;
b) The basis of his/her opinion that it would be in the student’s best interest to
participate in the SAL; and
c) A request that the parent/guardian provide the principal, by a date specified by
the principal, with the following information:
(i) the parent/guardian opinion regarding whether or not it would be in their
child’s best interest to participate in the SAL and the basis for their
opinion; and
(ii) any other information that in the parent/guardian opinion would assist the
Committee in its consideration of the referral.
4.7 A principal will not make a referral until after the date the parent/guardian was given to
make a response under section 4.5 (c).
4.8 The written referral to the SAL Committee will include:
a) The basis for the principal’s opinion of why it would be in the student’s best
interest to participate in the SAL (Appendix B, Request for Supervised Alternative
Learning);
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b) The SAL Plan;
c) A list of one or more members of the staff of the District or school who know the
student and can speak knowledgeably about the student’s academic
performance and the appropriateness of the SAL Plan;
d) A list of any other individuals who have information that is relevant to the referral;
and
e) Any other information that in the principal’s or the parent/guardians opinion woul d
assist the Committee in its consideration of the referral, as appropriate.
4.9 When the principal refers the student to the Committee, the principal will provide the
student and the parent/guardian with a copy of the referral together with a written
statement explaining that they will receive a notice from the Committee of the time and
place of the Committee meeting where the referral will be considered and setting out the
right to attend the meeting of the Committee with a support person or have a support
person attend in his/her place.
4.10 Within 20 school days of receiving a referral, the Committee will hold a meeting to
consider the referral. The Committee may hold the meeting after 20 school days if the
parent/guardian makes a request in writing for a later date or if the parent/guardian
contests the referral. The Superintendent of Instruction, or designate will prepare the
agenda for the meeting.
SAL Committee Composition
4.11 The SAL Committee will be composed of the following members:
a) One Trustee and an alternate, both appointed by the Board of Trustees at its
organizational meeting;
b) A Superintendent of Instruction, or a designated alternate appointed by the
Director of Education;
c) One Community Representative and alternate will be selected by the other
members of the Committee and will be appointed for the duration of the term of
the Board of Trustees. The Community Representative cannot be a member of
the Board of Trustees or an employee of the District;
d) A school/District Social Worker and Student Success Program lead or alternate
may also attend and participate in the committee meetings but will not have
voting rights.
4.12 The Committee will designate one of its members as Chair. When practicable the
District will designate the Trustee member as the Chair.
Committee Meetings
4.13 A meeting of the Committee may be held only when all three members of the
Committee or their alternates are present.
4.14 The Committee, through the Superintendent of Instruction, will give notice of the
meeting to the following people:
a) The student;
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b) The parent/guardian of the student;
c) The school principal;
d) Any member of the staff or District who was listed in the referral; and
e) Any other individual listed in the referral.
Consideration of the SAL Application
4.15 The SAL Committee will review the SAL application and the SAL Plan by meeting with
the student, parent/guardian and any others it considers appropriate for the purposes of
determining whether:
a) the application should be approved, and a program prescribed which is directed
towards the student’s needs and interests;
b) the Plan should be approved with modifications and approval given to the student
to participate in SAL according to the modified SAL Plan; or
c) not approve the application, in which case, the student is expected to return to
regular attendance at school.
4.16 A program approved by the SAL Committee will include one or more of the following:
a) full or part-time employment at an approved work location for a f ixed period;
b) completion of a life skills course; and/or
c) continuing studies or other activity to meet the students' needs and interests
pursuant to which the student is excused from attendance from school on either
a full or part-time basis.
4.17 The SAL Committee may choose to request the presentation of relevant information to
be presented to the Committee by District staff, parents/guardians, and community
members after the question and answer portion of the meeting. The committee will
discuss the SAL application with the student, parent/guardian and other attendees.
Committee Decision
4.18 The SAL Committee will deliberate and arrive at a decision regarding a SAL for the
student (including all aspects of the original or modified SAL Plan).
Communication of Decision
4.19 The SAL Committee will, within five school days of the meeting, provide the
parent/guardian, student, principal and Primary Contact Person with written notification
(Appendices E, Letter Notifying Parent of the SAL Committee Decision – Approval
Granted or F, Letter Notifying Parent of the SAL Committee Decision – Approval Not
Granted) of its decision and the SAL Plan (Appendix C, SAL Plan) with any
modifications to the Plan made by the Committee. As well as contact information for the
Primary Contact Person and the employer, if a work placement is included. A letter will
also be forwarded to the employer (Appendix G, Letter Notifying an Employer whether
or not a Student has Permission to Work).
4.20 If the parent/guardian does not agree with the SAL Committee’s decision, they have the
right to request reconsideration of the decision within ten school days of receiving
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written notification of the decision. The parent or guardian may submit to the principal of
the student’s school a written request that the Committee reconsider its decision on
SAL, or the contents of the SAL Plan.
4.21 When the request is received, the SAL Committee will:
a) meet within twenty school days of receiving the request for reconsideration;
b) review the request to reconsider the SAL decision or the SAL;
c) approve or reject SAL for the student;
d) approve or reject the SAL Plan, where appropriate; and
e) notify the parent or student and the principal regarding the committee’s decision
within five (5) days of the reconsideration meeting.
4.22 The Principal or designate will attend the meeting when the SAL decision or the SAL
Plan is reconsidered, as required;
4.23 The parent/guardian who requests that the SAL Committee reconsider the SAL decision
or the SAL Plan is encouraged to attend the meeting when the SAL decision or the SAL
Plan is reconsidered to present reasons for the reconsideration request;
4.24 The student is encouraged to attend the meeting when the SAL decisions or the SAL
Plan is reconsidered;
4.25 Primary Contact Person may attend the meeting when the SAL decision or the SAL
Plan is reconsidered; and
4.26 If the SAL Committee does not approve the SAL for the student, then the student is
expected to return to regular attendance at school.
Modifications to SAL Plan
4.27 If necessary, the Primary Contact Person may make modific ations to the SAL Plan after
it has been approved by the Committee if the SAL Plan substantially remains the same
and if input from the principal, parent/guardian and student is sought. If, in the opinion of
the Primary Contact Person it would be in the best interest to make modifications to the
SAL Plan that would result in the Plan being substantially different, he or she will review
the proposed changes with the principal.
4.28 If the SAL Plan is modified, the Primary Contact Person will inform the parent/gua rdian
and the student of the changes.
4.29 The principal may make proposed modifications to the SAL Plan if:
a) in the opinion of the principal it would be in the student’s best interests;
b) the Superintendent of Instruction and/or Student Success lead agrees; and
c) the principal first requested input from the student and parent/guardian.
4.30 If the SAL Plan is modified, the principal will inform the Primary Contact Person,
parent/guardian and the student of the changes.
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4.31 The Primary Contact Person will provide the principal with at least one written report
(template, Appendix H, monitoring Log for a Student in SAL) at least twice per school
year that includes:
a) observations of the progress made by the student;
b) an overall review of the appropriateness and impact of the Plan; and
c) recommendations regarding whether, after the Plan expires, the student should
continue to participate in SAL or return to the regular program.
4.32 The principal will provide a copy of each report to the student and the parent/guardian of
the student.
Renewal of the SAL Plan
4.33 Before the expiry of the SAL Plan, the principal may recommend that the SAL
Committee renew the SAL Plan for a maximum of one year, if in the opinion of the
principal of the student’s school it would be in the student’s best interests to continue to
participate in supervised alternative learning. In this case, the principal will:
a) submit a recommendation to the Committee to renew the SAL Plan (Appendix I,
Request for the SAL Committee to Renew Supervised Alternative Learning), with
the written consent of the parent/guardian of the student.
4.34 Within twenty (20) school days after the day a Committee receives a recommendation,
the committee will:
a) renew the student’s SAL Plan for up to one school year (one time only);or
b) revise the student’s SAL Plan and renew the student’s Plan for up to one school
year (one time only);
c) convene a Committee meeting that involves all relevant parties include
parent/guardian and student; or
d) not renew the SAL Plan and require the student to return to school or p rogram.
Termination of the Plan
4.35 A Plan is terminated if any of the following circumstances exist:
a) The student provides the principal with a written statement that he or she wants
to return to school; or
b) The student’s Primary Contact Person provides the principal with a written
statement that the student is not complying with the Plan and the principal
determines, with the agreement of a supervisory officer, such as a teacher, that
termination is in the student’s best interests.
4.36 A principal will send written notice of the termination of a Plan to the following:
a) The student;
b) The parent of the student;
c) The committee that approved the student’s participation in supervised alternative
learning; and
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d) Any individual who is involved in the implementation of the student’s Plan.
Transition Plan for Student
4.37 A principal will ensure that a transition Plan (Appendix J, Transition Plan) has been
developed for helping a student whose SAL Plan has expired or been terminated with
the student’s transition from SAL.
Compassionate Grounds
4.38 A principal may authorize a student who is at least 16 years old to be excused from
attendance at school on a full-time basis if all of the following circumstances exist:
a) The principal believes that there are compassionate grounds that justify the
excusal;
b) The principal requires the student to attend school on a part -time basis;
c) The purpose of the excusal is not to enable the student to be employed during
school hours; and
d) The student is not excused under this section for more than one school year in
total.
5.0 APPENDICES
Appendix A: Checklist of “Pre-SAL” Procedures
Appendix B: Request for Supervised Alternative Learning
Appendix C: SAL Plan
Appendix D: SAL Employer Agreement
Appendix E: Letter notifying Parent of the SAL Committee Decision – Approval Granted
Appendix F: Letter notifying Parent of the SAL Committee Decision – Approval Not Granted
Appendix G: Letter notifying an Employer whether or not a Student has permission to work
Appendix H: Monitoring Log for a Student in SAL
Appendix I: Request for the SAL Committee to Renew Supervised Alternative Learning
Appendix J: Transition Plan
Appendix K: Student Agreement for a Non-credit SAL Work Placement
6.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Education Act, Regulation 374/10
Ontario Ministry of Education Publication: Supervised Alternative Learning: Policy and
Implementation 2010
Policy P.044.CUR Supervised Alternative Learning
PR.508.CUR: Appendix A
CHECKLIST OF “PRE-SAL” PROCEDURES
Strategies for Responding to a Student’s
Attendance Problems
Staff
Responsible
Timelines Done
()
Classroom
Level
Keep accurate attendance records and look for patterns.
Follow protocols for student safety and
problem prevention.
Talk to the student.
Communicate absences to parent in accordance with
school policy.
Report concerns to administrators.
Check OSR for information.
Consult with the Student Success team and
guidance staff.
Consult with the child and youth worker and/or social
worker, if appropriate, in accordance with board policy.
Refer to strategies under “School Level” for intervention
in accordance with school protocols.
School
Level
Convene a school Student Success team meeting (and
include the attendance counsellor, if appropriate) to:
assess the student’s profile;
discuss the attendance issue (e.g., possible causes,
implications);
develop a re-engagement plan;
identify supports and interventions.
Notify all team members and the student’s teachers of
the re-engagement plan.
Monitor and assess the success of the
re-engagement plan.
Meet with the parent to:
identify the school’s expectations and concerns;
determine the student’s expectations and goals;
discuss the parent’s expectations;
generate a plan that includes any of the following:
– Student Success team support
– support from a child and youth worker
or chaplain
– support from a social worker or attendance
counsellor
– a modified timetable
– credit recovery
– continuous-entry cooperative education
– an alternative education course or program
– independent learning course(s)
– referral to assessment, if necessary
– referral to a community program
Document the student’s participation in the plan and
schedule a follow-up meeting, if required.
Have a follow-up meeting, if required, with the parent,
student, and attendance counsellor to:
review the success of the plan for the student;
identify ongoing concerns;
realign goals (in small increments);
revise/add strategies to the re-engagement plan, if
required;
discuss legal implications of non-attendance
(Education Act);
discuss the possibility of SAL as an option.
If required, revise the plan and schedule a
follow-up meeting.
Refer to strategies under “Board Level” for interventions
in accordance with board protocols.
Board
Level
Enrol student in an alternative education program, if
appropriate.
Start the SAL process, with student and parent input. The
school Student Success team remains part of board-level
discussions.
133 GREENBANK ROAD, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2H 6L3
Tel: (613) 721-1820 Fax: (613) 820-6968 24-Hour Automated Information Line (613) 596-8222 Web Site: www.ocdsb.ca
PR.508.CUR: Appendix E
[Date]
[Parent/Guardian]
[Address]
Re: [name of student] Date of birth: ____________________ OEN: ______________
Dear [name of parent/guardian]:
On [date of SAL Committee meeting], the Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) Committee of the [name
of district school board] granted approval for [name of student] to participate in Supervised Alternative
Learning in accordance with Ontario Regulation 374/10, “Supervised Alternative Learning and Other
Excusals from Attendance at School”, made under the Education Act.
The approved Supervised Alternative Learning Plan, which outlines the program, has been discussed with
you, and you indicated agreement with it. The primary contact will be [name of contact], and you may
contact him/her at ________. [Include student’s employer contact information also, if applicable.]
You were also advised of the following conditions of the approval:
1. The student shall comply with the Supervised Alternative Learning Plan, as prescribed by the
SAL Committee, in order to maintain his/her status in Supervised Alternative Learning.
2. The primary contact must be notified of any proposed changes to the student’s circumstances.
3. The primary contact will maintain regular communication with those associated with Supervised
Alternative Learning, and will also keep you updated on a regular basis.
4. Significant breaches of the Supervised Alternative Learning Plan may result in termination of
Supervised Alternative Learning. Termination means that the student would no l onger be excused
from regular attendance at school.
5. The Supervised Alternative Learning Plan will be reviewed periodically. The plan will be reviewed
near the end of its term so that decisions can be made regarding the student’s participation in
Supervised Alternative Learning. You will be invited to provide input into the review.
Should you have any questions regarding these conditions or other issues as they relate to the Supervised
Alternative Learning Plan, please contact the primary contact or the principal of the school. If you wish
the committee to reconsider its decision, including the decision on the student’s Supervised Alternative
Learning Plan, please submit your written request to [name of principal and school] within ten school
days of receiving this letter.
Yours truly,
Chairperson of the SAL Committee
cc: Principal of the school
Primary contact
133 GREENBANK ROAD, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2H 6L3
Tel: (613) 721-1820 Fax: (613) 820-6968 24-Hour Automated Information Line (613) 596-8222 Web Site: www.ocdsb.ca
PR.508.CUR: Appendix F
[date]
[parent/guardian]
[address]
Re: [name of student] Date of birth: ____________________ OEN: ____________________
Dear [name of parent/guardian]:
On [date of SAL Committee meeting], the Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) Committee of the [name
of district school board] reviewed the application requesting that [name of student] be considered for
participation in the Supervised Alternative Learning program in accordance with Ontario
Regulation 374/10, “Supervised Alternative Learning and Other Excusals from Attendance at School”,
made under the Education Act.
The committee has made the decision to not approve the application for Supervised Alternative Learning.
[Name of student] is expected to return to daily school attendance immediately.
As explained to you at the meeting, if you are not in agreement with the committee’s decision and if you
would like to request a reconsideration of the decision on SAL, you should contact [the principal of the
school] within ten school days of receiving this notification. If you submit a written request for
reconsideration, the committee will hold a meeting to reconsider its decision within twenty days of
receiving your request.
Yours truly,
Chairperson of the SAL Committee
cc: Principal of the school
Proposed primary contact
133 GREENBANK ROAD, OTTAWA, ONTARIO K2H 6L3
Tel: (613) 721-1820 Fax: (613) 820-6968 24-Hour Automated Information Line (613) 596-8222 Web Site: www.ocdsb.ca
PR.508.CUR: Appendix G
[date]
[name of employer]
[address]
Dear [name of employer]:
On [date of SAL Committee meeting], the Supervised Alternative Learning (SAL) Committee of the [name
of district school board] considered the request for [name of student, date of birth] [to continue] to
participate in the SAL program in accordance with Ontario Regulation 374/10, “Supervised Alternative
Learning and Other Excusals from Attendance at School”, made under the Education Act.
____ The SAL Committee approved the request, and [name of student] is permitted to work during
school hours as part of a Supervised Alternative Learning program. The following conditions
apply:
A visit by board staff will take place to confirm the safety of the proposed work and
workplace (if it has not already taken place).
Contact will be permitted between the primary contact [insert name] and the above-named
student during work hours. The primary contact will arrange the contact time with you.
You will inform the primary contact by telephone, at [telephone number], or by e-mail within
five school days of the end of employment of the above-named student.
OR
____ The SAL Committee did not approve the request, and the student is expected to return to regular
school attendance immediately. Therefore, the student is not allowed to be employed during
school hours.
Should you have any questions regarding this decision, please contact me directly, at [telephone
number].
Yours truly,
Principal
cc: Primary contact