Integration: We’ve had enough. it’s time for more than talk!
DID YOU KNOW THAT:  Following the forum on the integration of students with special needs held on October 25, 2010, the National Assembly adopted the following motion?

Wednesday October 27, 2010 – Excerpt from the National Assembly Report of Debates
Asking the government to take steps to ensure all students’ success

Motion:  Unanimously adopted

“That the Quebec Government National Assembly make sure the class composition is balanced to ensure all students’ success, including those who are disabled or who have adaptation or learning difficulties, and that all the stakeholders within the education community, including private schools, and special needs schools, be drawn upon, including the Quebec Government who will provide a framework and appropriate resources”.

DID YOU KNOW THAT:    Even though the newly established committee on special education will be making recommendations at the end of May for measures to be in place as of September 2011, the Minister Line Beauchamp stated that she will only outline the guidelines for a successful integration in the fall of 2012?

DID YOU KNOW THAT:  The new budget of the Charest government set Education as a priority without any additional investment for students with special needs?

TEACHERS SAY IT'S TIME FOR MORE THAN TALK!

The QPAT Board of Directors has adopted the action plan on the integration of students with special needs:


1.    April – memo to teachers.
2.    Orange ribbon launch to support our cause.
3.    Report Card Action:  Presentation of results during the week of April 25, 2011. (See plan of action on evaluation of learning).
4.    On-Line Petition in reference to the motion unanimously adopted at the National Assembly on October 27, 2010.
5.    On going messages on the QPAT website, Facebook, Twitter and Web advertisement.
6.    Rally in Quebec City on Saturday, May 14, 2011 for all those concerned by the urgent need to provide support to the students with special NEEDS.  (More information to follow).

The QPAT Board of Directors has adopted the action plan using a Report card:


1.    Teachers will receive a report card in which to do an evaluation ofthe MELS on:
      
       a)    The problems associated with the integration of students with special needs.There have been no guarantees that such integration would be balanced and workable as of 2011 without additional resources.
       b)    The MELS Education Success Agreement (MESA).By setting targets for school boards and for each school, these success agreements will put additional pressure on teachers and will undermine our professional judgment and allow for manipulation of   the results.
      c)The evaluation of learning.The new report card does not meet the recommendations made by the teachers and some of the changes will bring additional work for the teachers.

2.    A giant report card summarizing all the results will be presented to the MELS and to the media during the week of April 25, 2011.