A limited number of subsidies for selected Additional Qualification (AQ) Program subsidies are now available to eligible candidates who have successfully completed Professional’s Development Course (PDC) modules or Principal’s Qualification Program (PQP) that includes a specific focus on anti-oppressive and anti-colonial environments, accessibility and inclusion and full participation for students with special education needs.

Subsidy participants will be required to submit a reflection for each subsidy request.

The reflection criteria below provides some guiding questions to help with your submission. Please note you do not need to address every question within each area. 

Participants are encouraged to think about the intersectionality of special education and the four areas and perhaps keep a reflective journal to document their thoughts to the guiding questions posed below as they work through their assignment/practicum to inform, and deepen individuals' leadership practice.

Reflection Question and Criteria 

How has the professional learning from the module or practicum had an impact on your leadership actions in relation to reducing barriers for students with special education needs and disability within the areas of equity, anti-oppression and anti-colonial environments, inclusion, accessibility and full participation of students?

Through the OPC learning opportunity that I recently participated in…

•  I have considered the content and relevance of my learning in connection to students receiving special education programs and/or services by…

• Actions I will take include…

Your learning reflection from your PDC module or PQP practicum proposal must demonstrate evidence in each of the following areas.    

• Equity, Anti-oppressive and Anti-colonial environments

• Inclusion

• Accessibility

• Participation

The bullets below are reflective questions for consideration; however, it is not necessary to have all boxes checked within the areas.

Equity, Anti-oppressive and Anti-colonial Environments

• How have you considered the content and relevance of your assignment/practicum to students receiving special education programs/services or with disabilities? (e.g., resources and materials that are culturally relevant and having a variety of perspectives).

• How have you incorporated anti-colonial perspectives in support of Truth and Reconciliation in your assignment/practicum?

• How have you considered the leadership actions for your practicum to bring about institutional change for students with special education needs? What specific data analysis is built into the practicum related to supporting students with disability and/or special education needs? Does this assignment/practicum achieve that, why or why not? Does it ask questions that challenge the status quo and/or critical consciousness of staff and/or yourself? 

• Have you given consideration to the intersectionality of equity and special education, identities, lived experiences and special education, critical disabilities and special education? Are any of these embedded in your assignment/practicum?

• How have you considered the identities and lived experiences of those impacted by your assignment/practicum? What do you know about intersections of identities? Who are the partners needed to build the knowledge necessary about the identities impacted by your assignment/practicum?

Inclusion 

• How are students with special education needs and/or disabilities benefiting or not benefiting from your practicum/course? Why or why not?

• How have you considered countering deficit perspective and practices? How are your beliefs about students influenced by “Norms”? What aspects of how we do school might not be in line with how students learn? What are the previous experiences of students that will help you better understand and serve students with special education needs or disabilities? 

• How have you considered School Improvement Planning (SIP) through building relationships that honour community values and consider families and partners as experts in understanding children/students?

Accessibility 

• Has there been consideration about how different students are treated and organized in the school and how the system might be reinforcing societal inequities?

• How are schools and learning experiences accessible to all? Have you considered the accessibility? (e.g., consider transportation, school events, open houses and student recognition events)

• How has the assignment/practicum considered staff and students developing their critical consciousness and interrogating bias, racism and oppression with regards to accessibility?

Participation

• Is there a culture of high expectations for student engagement, learning, achievement and well-being for all students as a result of your assignment/practicum?

• Who are the students with special education needs and how do you know that they are engaged in their learning? What are students’ strengths and interests? How are they used in programming for students to promote access and participation? 

• How has student voice been considered inside and outside of the class? How do we draw on the voices and realities of our students with special education needs to make responsive programming decisions catered to their needs? How will their voice be used to transform them from passive recipients into active participants in their education?

• How are the needs of students with special education needs and disabilities being addressed within the classrooms and school? What evidence is there of the sharing of this information between school and home?

• How have parents/guardians been considered as partners? How have you incorporated their input into decisions and direction particularly as it relates to the needs of their children (e.g., Individual Education Plan and Safety Plan consultation)

The moral imperative is to lead schools K-12, through a stance characterized by anti-oppressive and anti-colonial environments, accessibility and inclusion, and full participation. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of students with special education needs and disabilities.

Sample Reflection Question and Criteria Template  

Eligibility and Process

A candidate must

• be either a practising principal or vice-principal with a minimum of two years experience to receive accreditation with OCT

• have successfully completed the Principal's Qualification Program (PQP) Part 1 and 2

• receive pre-approval from the OPC for each module*

• register for the one or more PDC modules with the OPC within 30 days of your pre-approval and

• complete an additional requirement within two-months of the module end date**

• summative reflection with a focus on special education for school leaders that will be assessed to ensure focus on equity, accessibility, inclusion, and full participation of students with special education needs and students with disabilities

• a clear connection to the module content

• choice of format ensuring a maximum of 500 words or five-minutes for audio or video submissions and

• submit assignment to Step 5 below

*each pre-approval is only a subsidy for one module; candidates can complete subsidy applications for more than one module

**not required for Module 11: Leading the Special Education Program

How do I apply for and receive the subsidy?

 Step 1 - Pre-Approval 

 Step 2 - Register for the PDC

 Step 3 - Complete the PDC module

 Step 4 - Survey Submission

 Step 5 - Subsidy Application (upload additional assginment for assessment)

Reimbursement will automatically be provided if the assignment is approved or you will be contacted.

Contact pdc@principals.ca with any questions.

Eligibility and Process

• This subsidy is available to PQP 1 candidates who registered for programs with OPC taking place starting in summer 2022 – Winter 2025

• Complete an application for approval through the respective principals’ association

• Practicum proposal must be completed and submitted to the PQP facilitator for initial assessment in accordance with the Practicum Handbook

• Practicum proposal will be reviewed after submission to ensure alignment to special education for school leaders focusing on equity, accessibility, inclusion and full participation of students with special education needs and students with disabilities

• Complete the following assignment: 
• A summative reflection with a focus on special education for school leaders that will be assessed to ensure focus on equity, accessibility, inclusion, and full participation of students with special education needs and students with disabilities;
• choice of format ensuring a maximum of 500 words or five-minutes for audio or video submissions.

Please note: If your practicum proposal has already been approved, you cannot change it to align with the criteria for this subsidy.

How do I apply for and receive the subsidy?

Step 1 - Register for Pre-Approval 

Step 2 - After PQP 1 completion complete and submit the approved practicum proposal and assignment 

Step 3 - Survey Completion

Step 4 - OPC will prepare your reimbursement once practicum proposal and assignment are approved

Contact pqp@principals.ca with any questions.

Eligibility and Process

A candidate must

• be either a practising principal or vice-principal or be registered in the Principal's Qualification Program (PQP) or have completed the PQP 1

• register for the SEAQP with the OPC within 30 days of your pre-approval and

• successfully complete the program. 

How do I apply for and receive the subsidy?

 Step 1 - Pre-Approval 

 Step 2 - Register for the SEAQP

 Step 3 - Complete the SEAQP

 Step 4 - Survey Submission

 Step 5 - Subsidy Application 

Contact sea@principals.on.ca with any questions.