Daily Living
Special Education and Inclusive Support in PEI Schools
Either a teacher or a parent can start the process toward an Individual Education Plan in a PEI school. Here is how that request actually moves, and where to escalate if a school isn't responsive.
1. Services Available Through Both Boards
PSB and CSLF both provide a full range of specialized services, coordinated through each school's student services team:
- Individual education planning (IEP)
- Autism services for school-age children
- Alternative education programming for exceptional behavioural needs
- Psychology and speech-language services
- Services for blind, visually impaired, deaf, or hard-of-hearing students
- EAL/FAL services
- Counselling and community access services
2. How an IEP Actually Gets Started
Either side can initiate it: a teacher may recommend an IEP after observing consistent learning struggles, or a parent can request one directly, typically by speaking with the classroom teacher, resource teacher, or principal. You don't need a diagnosis in hand to ask for a meeting; existing assessments or professional reports simply help the school team move faster once discussions start.
3. What Happens at the IEP Meeting
The meeting brings together the classroom teacher, a special education/resource teacher, and any relevant support staff (speech therapist, occupational therapist, educational assistant). The resulting document covers:
- Your child's strengths and specific educational needs
- The support services and program adjustments the school will provide
- How progress will be tracked and reported
- A transition plan where relevant (e.g., moving between grade levels or schools)
An IEP is a living document, reviewed and updated through the year, not a one-time form.
4. If a School Isn't Responsive
Start by requesting a follow-up meeting and providing any supporting documentation (private assessments, medical or professional recommendations) directly to the school team. If concerns persist, escalate to the board level:
| Board | Contact |
|---|---|
| Public Schools Branch (English Language School Board) | 1-800-280-7965, elsb@edu.pe.ca |
| Commission scolaire de langue francaise | 902-854-2975, cslf@edu.pe.ca |
5. A System Under Active Review
PEI's inclusive education model is currently being reworked following a 2023 independent review ("Better Together") that flagged the need for a better-resourced, more consistently designed system province-wide. A draft Inclusive Education Action Plan followed, with public consultation continuing; expect specific process changes to roll out over the coming school years rather than all at once.