Special Education for Administrators Qualification Program

Overview

Our SEAQP offers you an opportunity to enhance your school-level leadership skills and knowledge to support leadership in Special Education. The program focuses on improving professional practice to support diverse learners and build more inclusive and equitable learning spaces.

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 of professional collaboration 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

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

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

  • a member in good standing with the Ontario College of Teachers

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: 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
 Fully Online: April 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

April 23 - May 28

Module 2

May 29 - June 30

Module 3

July 2 - August 6

Module 4

August 7 - September 2

Module 5

September 3 - October 7   

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

April 9, 2025
 Fully Online: July 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

July 8 - August 12

Module 2

August 13 - September 16

Module 3

September 17 - October 21

Module 4

October 22 - November 25

Module 5

November 26 - December 30

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

June 24, 2025
Fully Online: January 2026

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 3

Module 2

March 5 - April 8

Module 3

April 9 - May 12

Module 4

May 13 - June 16

Module 5

June 17 - July 21

Submission of final assignment   

+1 month

 

Registration Deadline

January 14, 2026

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. 

Accessibility and other policies

Our Accessibility and other policies that relate to our programs are outlined on this webpage.
Information on the Ontario College of Teachers AQ Guidelines, Available AQs, Prerequisites and FAQs

For more information on the Ontario College of Teachers AQ Guidelines, Available AQs, Prerequisites and FAQs

Professional Learning Goals and Principles
OPC's Professional Learning Goals and Principles

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.