Inclusive Education
Overview
An inclusive education system is one that demonstrates behaviours and decisions that reflect valuing all students. Inclusive education is not just programming for students with special needs or disabilities. The process of getting to know oneself and others leads to staff and students developing empathy for others while contributing to the welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment.
Some learners have profound and ongoing needs and others have short-term or situation-based needs - every learner’s needs are unique. Inclusive Education calls for flexible and responsive learning within environments that can adapt to the changing needs of learners.
Parkland School Division has a responsibility to ensure that each student enrolled in a school operated by the Board and each staff member employed by the Board is provided with a welcoming, caring, respectful and safe learning environment that respects diversity and fosters a sense of belonging. To this end, stakeholders gain trust and confidence when students report positively about their sense of safety and well-being.
For students, staff and the greater community, the continual progression toward equity, and the promotion of anti-racism, are essential components of a caring, respectful and safe school division. Staff are to demonstrate, and ensure, that a sense of belonging, for all staff, students and community members, exists in all places.
As per the Education Act s.16(1)
all courses or programs of study and instructional materials used in a school must reflect the diverse nature and heritage of society in Alberta, promote understanding and respect for others and honour and respect the common values and beliefs of Albertans. (2) For greater certainty, the courses or programs of study and instructional materials referred to in subsection (1) must not promote or foster doctrines of racial or ethnic superiority or persecution, social change through violent action or disobedience of laws.
- Personal and institutional racism and/or bias in all forms exists within the Division. In order to work toward the elimination of all forms of bias and racism within the Division, staff attend to the Mission of Parkland School Division; specifically, by
- Providing supportive learning environments;
- Providing meaningful experiences;
- Promoting healthy relationships;
- Creating opportunities to develop resilience; and
- Gaining diversity in perspectives.
Through the development of equity, community and belonging, staff shall demonstrate behaviours and decisions that value all students.
Some learners have profound and ongoing needs and others have short-term or situation-based needs. Every learner’s context, and every learner’s needs are unique. Equity in education calls for flexible and responsive learning within environments that can adapt to the changing needs of learners. Equity implies going beyond “equality of opportunity” and moving toward greater “equality of outcome”.
Related Assurance Element(s)
Element 7: Support systems promote care, respect & safety
Element 8: Support systems promote equity, community & belonging