Special Education for Administrators Qualification Program

Overview

Our SEAQP offers you an opportunity to enhance your leadership skills and knowledge to support your work in leading Special Education. You will reflect on ways to improve your professional practice, as you transform the culture of your school to become more inclusive and ensure the success of all students. 

It includes a culminating reflective journal that focuses your learning on a challenge you have regarding special education in your school. Assignments are often job-embedded and can be adjusted to meet individual learning needs. Our program creates a community where learners discuss topics and share learning with one another.

Qualified candidates can apply to Charles Sturt University for inclusion of this AQ as a prior learning credit towards the Master of International Education (School Leadership) or Master of Education degrees.

Our program is based on the Ontario College of Teachers' guidelines. It includes learning outcomes in the following areas

  • foundations and legislation
  • instructional leadership and leading change in special education
  • building an inclusive and equitable school culture
  • building relationships and developing people to support students with special needs
  • responding to conflict and challenges
  • assessing and evaluating with special education in mind and
  • developing the organization.

A minimum of 125 hours is included in our program.

For those looking to offer this program in your board, we are able to tailor the program to the unique characteristics of each district.

Module Information

Module 1 - Setting Directions
  • Core beliefs: What do we really believe about students who learn differently?
  • Asset versus deficit thinking
  • Creating an inclusive environment
  • What is the “why” that drives our special education decisions
  • Creating a shared vision of success for all students

Module 2 - Securing Accountability
  • Special Education law
  • Leading the Identification Placement Review Committee (I.P.R.C.) process
  • Policy Procedure Memorandum (PPM) 140
  • Improving IEPs
  • Case law studies
  • Navigating situations of student aggression related to special education needs
  • Exclusions related to special education needs

Module 3 - Improving the Instructional Program
  • Understanding the Ministry's categories of exceptionalities
  • Leadership that supports improved use of research-based instructional approaches
  • Creating a professional learning plan for staff
  • Culturally proficient leadership and special education
  • Leading mentally healthy schools

Module 4 - Developing the Organization
  • Leading change related to special education
  • Maximizing leadership skills to support diverse learners
  • Using PLCs to support students with special education needs

Module 5 - Building Relationships
  • Preventing and resolving conflicts related to special education
  • Improving communication and trust with parents and guardians of children with needs
  • Building community partnerships to support students

Program Pre-work and Canvas Access 
Program Pre-work

There is pre-work that will need to be completed in advance of the program start date. You will receive an email with access to our Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) approximately one week before the start date. It is important that you follow the instructions and access the LMS to review the pre-work learning expectations. The pre-work includes an equity, diversity and inclusion module designed to help candidates to reflect and prepare for productive conversations and participation.

Program Resource Access

All program content and Learning Management System access will be available to candidates beginning approximately one week in advance of the program and will remain active four weeks after the end of the program. Following this period, candidates will no longer have access to assignments, conversations, resources or other content related to the program. Please be sure to save any information that you would like to retain during the timeframe that you have access to the LMS as extensions to program access will only be granted under special circumstances, as approved by the Registrar or Director of Professional Learning.

Program Fee

$900.00 (covers all five modules, includes $50 non-refundable registration fee).

Subsidy

Full subsidies are available for SEAQP. Please view our Special Education for School Leaders Project for more detailed information or to apply.

Admission Requirements

There are no admission requirements for the SEAQP. However, the content is intended for school administrators and is delivered from a leadership standpoint. It is recommended that you have foundational knowledge in this topic area before registering for this program.

Auditing the Program

Upcoming Sessions 

* All times are communicated in EDT or EST.

Fully Online: November 2023

There is one web conference per module, module group meetings, and independent assignments. Web conference dates and times are determined once the program begins based on participant availability. A minimum of 125 hours is included in our program.

Dates

These dates are subject to change

Module 1

November 2 - December 6

Module 2

December 7 - January 10

Module 3

January 11 - February 14

Module 4

February 15 - March 25

Module 5

March 26 - May 1

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

October 19, 2023
Fully Online: November 2023 - Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB

This session is for Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB employees only. 

There is one web conference per module, module group meetings, and independent assignments. Web conference dates and times are determined once the program begins based on participant availability. A minimum of 125 hours is included in our program.

Dates

These dates are subject to change

Module 1

November 2 - December 6

Module 2

December 7 - January 10

Module 3

January 11 - February 14

Module 4

February 15 - March 25

Module 5

March 26 - May 1

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

October 19, 2023
Fully Online: January 2024

There is one web conference per module, module group meetings, and independent assignments. Web conference dates and times are determined once the program begins based on participant availability. A minimum of 125 hours is included in our program.

Dates

These dates are subject to change

Module 1

January 22 – February 22

Module 2

February 23 – March 22

Module 3

March 23 – April 25

Module 4

April 26 – May 23

Module 5

May 24 – June 21

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

January 9, 2024
Fully Online: April 2024

There is one web conference per module, module group meetings, and independent assignments. Web conference dates and times are determined once the program begins based on participant availability. A minimum of 125 hours is included in our program.

Dates

These dates are subject to change

Module 1

April 25 – May 23

Module 2

May 24 – June 20

Module 3

June 21 – July 22

Module 4

July 23 – August 22

Module 5

August 23 – September 23

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

April 11, 2024
Fully Online: July 2024

There is one web conference per module, module group meetings, and independent assignments. Web conference dates and times are determined once the program begins based on participant availability. A minimum of 125 hours is included in our program.

Dates

These dates are subject to change

Module 1

July 9 - August 13

Module 2

August 14 - September 17

Module 3

September 18 - October 22

Module 4

October 23 - November 26

Module 5

November 27 - January 3, 2025

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

June 25, 2024
Fully Online: January 2025

There is one web conference per module, module group meetings, and independent assignments. Web conference dates and times are determined once the program begins based on participant availability. A minimum of 125 hours is included in our program.

Dates

These dates are subject to change

Module 1

January 28 - March 4

Module 2

March 5 - April 8

Module 3

April 9 - May 13

Module 4

May 14 - June 17

Module 5

June 18 - July 22

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

 

Registration Deadline

January 14, 2025

Register

 

Terms and Conditions

Academic Integrity and Engagement

All candidates participating in our Additional Qualification Programs must review and comply with our academic integrity and engagement guidelines.
Refund Policy

A full refund is available if you cancel up to two weeks before the start date, less a $50.00 non-refundable registration fee.

 

A $250.00 refund is available if you cancel one week before the start date.

 

There is no refund for cancellations after the start date.

 

A full refund applies when a session is cancelled due to low enrollment. 

Professional Learning Goals and Principles
OPC's Professional Learning Goals and Principles
Interpretation Services Terms and Conditions

The Ontario Principals' Council® (OPC) is committed to accommodating the individual needs of our Members, in accordance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and the Ontario Human Rights Code.  Once a candidate has registered and paid the applicable registration fees for a program, the OPC will contract with an interpretation service of its choosing and will cover the fees and expenses related to interpretation services in accordance with its contract arrangements with the interpreter.  The candidate is welcome to provide a list of preferred interpreters for us to consider, but OPC retains the discretion to choose the provider of these services.

As the OPC is required to comply with the cancellation policy specific to each independent interpreter, it will communicate the cancellation policy to the program candidate in writing. A candidate seeking to cancel their participation in an OPC program must comply with the interpreter’s cancellation policy and be respectful of the associated timelines. Candidates will be held responsible for cancellation fees applied as a result of missing timelines for cancellation.

OPC’s standard refund policy will also apply to all cancellations. 

The OPC issues T22O2 receipts for eligible programs, but it is ultimately the responsibility of the candidate (taxpayer) to ensure that their taxes are filed in accordance with CRA guidelines and if you have any questions related to taxes, we recommend you contact an accountant or the CRA.

Program deadlines are firm

 

It is a priority for us to develop, provide and support a variety of relevant, accessible and locally customized professional learning opportunities, based on diverse Member needs, feedback and job demands. For those looking to offer this program in your board, we can customize most of our programs and learning sessions to the unique characteristics of each district upon request.