The placement of students with special needs in regular school programs is based on a philosophy of equality, sharing, participation, and the worth and dignity of individuals. Most Albertans agree that students with special needs must be full participants in school and society. These students have the right to take part in regular school activities, and when they do so, they have a better chance of developing their full potential. School boards are ultimately responsible for making placement decisions that are in the best interests of individual children and of all the children they serve. A board may determine that a student is, by virtue of the student's behavioral, communicational, intellectual, learning or physical characteristics, or a combination of those characteristics, a student in need of a special education program.
Consultation includes conferencing and meeting with school staff.
School boards shall consult parents regarding each of the program areas described in procedure 1. School boards shall develop, keep current and implement written policies and procedures regarding education programs for students with special needs consistent with provincial policy and procedures on educational placement. School boards should consider involving students, parents, teachers, administrators and representatives of community agencies in the development of placement policies and procedures, where appropriate. School boards are responsible for ensuring that program placement decisions involving students with special needs are based on appropriate and well-documented student assessments. School boards are responsible for providing teachers of students with special needs with adequate learning resources and other classroom support, as well as appropriate inservice training and access to professional development opportunities.